Hang up the Phone
Posted in Daily Focus on Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Distractions can eat up a day of schooling faster than you know, and there seems to always be plenty of them. Many days I've wondered, "Where did the time go?" The time I lost was usually spent on things that seemed beneficial or constructive. One of these was the temptation to answer the phone. After all, it may be an emergency, right?
A ringing phone for me was like a piece of candy to a child. I couldn't resist answering it. Besides, who can stand listening to a ringing phone? Being on the phone seemed innocent enough until my children needed me. Often, they would have to wait to have their questions answered until I was done talking to a friend. "Just let it ring" became my children's motto.
Do you feel like you are always behind and homeschooling is becoming a burden? Pray to ask God to show you what activities need to be eliminated from your daily schedule. Homeschooling is too important to your children's future to not give it your best effort. Get rid of those distractions that may be worthwhile in themselves, but eat too much of your time each day. "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).
Lord, help me to prioritize my schedule today and not be taken in by those things that distract me. My children are depending on me to teach them, and I need Your wisdom to know what is valuable and what isn't. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(7 comments)
DONNA J 08/27/2008 04:01:40
What a blessing to have an awesome devotional tailored just for homeschool moms. Thank you for this awesome exhortation to strive for better.
I plan to share a link back to your blog from my blog, as well at AndLifeMoreAbundantly.org.
Shalom!
ERIN J 08/27/2009 12:20:59
As arule at our house we turn the ringer off the phone during school, but I still check the answering machine when I get a chance, just in case of an emergency. We also hang a sign on our front door that says "Homeschool in session. Do not disturb." It just helps people respect our school time. My biggest distraction is probably checking email or looking up info on the internet. I always think it will only take a few minutes, but usually it takes longer and once in awhile time gets away from me.
RITA H 08/26/2010 22:23:03
The only call I answer is from my husband. He won't call and disturb except in an emergency. Everyone else has to call him at work to contact us during the day. We had to start that due to a grandmother who thinks that thinks homeschooling (education in general) is not that important. Homeschooling is important and we have to make others understand that.
JULIE J 08/27/2011 07:44:55
I understand that a phone call can be a distraction during the homeschool day; however, God has been laying it on my heart lately that I need to teach my children to give Him their day and allow Him to do the planning and that it will sometimes mean He guides us to put our homeschooling on hold for the day to minister to someone. God places people in our paths to minister to, even in our children\'s paths and I believe He wants us to teach them how to hear His voice on that rather than teach them that school is more important than ministering to God\'s people by not having contact with the outside world while we are doing school.
KATHY S 08/27/2012 06:04:40
Caller I.D.
One of the best things they ever invented. I only pick up he phone for test results from the Doctor\'s office and my elderly Mother. Sometimes what is not important to me is a need for my Mother. She knows to make it as quick as she can ( unless it\'s truly an emergency) and respects our school day.
A few days a week, we got to the Library. They have wonderful, quiet glass cubicles, nothing but quiet and a very nice view!
Then for lunch we break and my son gets his favorite grilled cheese Meal in the Cafe, located right on the way out of the Library, which only costs $2.00. Something affordable!
I find we actually can work better at the Library than at home. ( for us)
At home, sometimes it seems like my son feels the need to rush because he knows when he\'s all done he can go and play games.
So if gas doesn\'t go up to $10 a gallon, we hopefully can still enjoy our productive trips to the Library!
Excellent Devotional as always! Thank you & May God Bless you for this ministry.
JODI N 08/27/2012 06:49:12
That\'s why I no longer have a facebook account! :) My youngest son and my husband both felt neglected because of the time I was spending talking to other people on facebook. So, I decided to give it up and have found that I have much more time to spend with the people I love. Sometimes we have to weed out distractions in our lives, no matter how benign they seem to be.
JUDY H 08/27/2012 18:33:50
Good guidance. I recently found out something about myself . And it may also apply to others. Phone or facebook can be distractions if we are not challenged in what we are doing. So recently, I changed our subject order, putting reading aloud an age appropriate inspiring missionary book right after our first lesson which is Bible (we are in O.T. right now. When we consider what others have endured in their work, it can challenge us in ours.