Nearsighted Homeschooling

"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit" (Proverbs 29:23).

As I drove home from our back-to-school shopping spree, I felt confident that I had finally purchased everything we needed for a successful school year. My schoolroom was ready, the curriculum had been ordered, and now these additional school supplies would complete my preparations for starting our year off right. Smiling smugly to myself, I thought I had everything under control.

Looking out the car window, I noticed a majestic hawk soaring overhead and brought it to my children's attention. Frustrated, my oldest daughter kept peering into the sky, but she couldn't locate the bird at which we were pointing. Stopping the car, I asked her to read the words on the sign ahead, but she couldn't see them. Slowly, I drove closer and closer until she could finally make out the letters. What a revelation of my foolishness! "I sure had everything under control," I thought to myself. "My daughter was nearsighted, and I hadn't even realized it until just now!"

Many Christians also have a tendency to be nearsighted when life is going well. Living in the success of now, we think our current blessings are the result of our own hands. Like the Old Testament nation of Israel, we fail to acknowledge God's hand of divine intervention in our lives. Unfortunately, many times we must experience painful or humbling reminders in order to correct our vision and see the true picture. God is in control, and we are not!

If you're starting your new school year depending on your own abilities, be careful. Only the Lord can show you those things that will make your homeschooling truly successful. As you depend on the Holy Spirit, you will not only discover wisdom to teach, but you'll also have your eyes opened to see all that God desires for your family. "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God" (Psalm 123:1-2a).

Lord, forgive me for my foolish pride that fails to acknowledge You as Lord. Open my eyes to see Your plans for our family this homeschool year and teach me to constantly depend on You. In Jesus' name, Amen.