The First Loaf

"And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit" (Ecclesiastes 7:8b).

My daughter's first attempt at baking bread in our home economics class served as a stark reminder of the importance of patience. Although she carefully measured and followed the recipe's directions when making the dough, her lack of patience in waiting for it to rise paid a stiff penalty. Thinking she could hurry the process along, she only let the dough rise 15 minutes instead of an hour. Later, as she removed the bread from the oven, she discovered the consequence of her actions. Each loaf was flat and too hard to eat.

Patience is more than a virtue. It is a fruit of the Spirit that must be developed in our children's character (Galatians 5:22). As we teach our children to discipline their selfish emotions, they learn to wait on God and trust Him for all their needs. However, leading our children through this growing process requires a patience of its own. As homeschooling parents, we may find ourselves failing to demonstrate the very patience we are attempting to instill.

What about you? Are you speaking crossly, acting perturbed, or responding negatively to your child's request for help during the day? Homeschooling requires an intense amount of love and patience that only comes from walking with the Lord. The next time you find yourself growing cross after a long homeschooling day, remember that impatience can ruin more than just a loaf of bread. It can also ruin your relationship with your children and your home. "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Ephesians 4:1-2).

Father, help me to practice what I preach and demonstrate patience with those I love. Let my words be seasoned by Your grace and let me rise above the homeschooling problems in the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Comments(12 comments)

SARAH B 04/24/2010 07:35:42

Thank you so much. What a blessing to have these daily emails sent to me that pertain to my home schooling lifestyle. This one especially touched my soul. Thank you for being a light.

RHONDA Y 04/26/2010 19:19:18

Rhonda E

How true! I need that reminder over and over again! Thank you!!

RENEE O 04/24/2011 03:39:07

Wow! God bless you and thank you for sharing your heart:) Renee

BETHANY E 04/24/2011 12:21:36

I just confessed this to my priest yesterday! Now that I have been absolved of this sin from my past, I am trying very hard not to commit it and again make my heart heavy with guilt. Glad to know I\'m not alone in my struggle with impatience!

LORINDA D 04/25/2011 09:02:07

Ouch. :o) I\'ve never thought about my homeschooling in this light before and wish I had been more patient with my older three when I was teaching them. But thankfully, God\'s mercies are new EVERY MORNING and GREAT is His faithfulness! I have one more to go and am determined to not grow weary in doing what God has called me to do. I\'ve read Eph. 4:1-2 many times, but never connected vocation with my homeschooling. But it is and thank you for that gentle reminder!!! :o)

ELIZABETH O 04/24/2012 04:48:39

Patience is a virtue and does not come easy due to our earthly emotions. We are tested every day all day.. sometimes before we get out of bed. It requires a certain mind frame to not let your little ones push your buttons and i admire those that can hold their ground. When I get to my breaking point I just say \"volcano\". It\'s reminder to me and to my kids to chill and then I try to call to God to give me the rest. Thank you for this reminder. Bless all you who have been called to do this..a 24/7 job is the toughest and esp. when our kids are always our focus-they are always testing us. Stand firm and know that god is with you!

HEYDEE V 04/24/2012 07:07:03

THE LORD HELP US TO BE LIKE JESUS. SISTER HEYDEE

KATHY S 04/24/2012 07:25:17

I started to learn patience when my son was born. He cried constantly, I was sleeping about 4 hours a day, and not all at once. Stuck in a 3rd floor apartment, alone, my son and I, It was very hard.

He had 4 different therapsits coming 7 days a week, starting when he was 8 months old.

He had censory issues, scoliosis, torticollis, and we think collic. 11 years later, I find out he has Asbergers syndrome.

I learned patinece, I had no choice.

My son however, is the most patient, kind and gentle spirited child that I know.

I\'m sure at some point throughout the last 13 years, I was inpatient, or got upset, may God forgive me for those times.

I thank you Jesus, for Blessing me with my son, the best gift you could have ever given me. I don\'t know how you ever blessed me with such a wonderful child, but I thank you.

NISSA W 04/24/2012 09:06:18

Thank you, I am in my first year of homeschooling and my girls are in 5th grade. So I am battling with all they have learned (mostly the bad) in the public schools and their desire to be with their \"friends\". I am REALLY trying to work on my patience. I am turning my faith to the Lord and am working to instill this faith in my girls. This is truly a new beginning for us all and I am always proud when I see even the smallest of accomplishments in all of us.

Kerrie Ribble 04/24/2013 14:40:46

I so needed this reminder with this new chapter of home schooling for my 13 yr old son. With ADD in the picture, I know my patience will be tested. I pray for guidance daily. My child is a blessing and it's my responsibility to make sure he is guided with love & discipline. I pray this decision will be the answer to many issues we are facing.

Dana Sutton 04/24/2013 18:17:30

So need that reminder. I just began homeschooling when I lost patience with the school failing to get through to my son, resulting in 3-4 hours of homework every night. I decided if we were going to spend that kind of time at home anyway, we may as well homeschool. After prayer and encouragement I went against the advise of the counselor and pulled him out. Paid off the first week in when my son looked at me with a new realization and said, "I'm smart!" He never knew that before. He has been progressing so well, but I have days when I am beginning to run low on patience. I mean, I never imagined I would be dealing with schooling again, and it was not something I had desired to do before. God has been teaching me so much this season as well, and SO much of it is to be patient, with my son, with myself and with the process.

Love Learning 04/24/2014 12:22:17

This is so true!!! And it's the best way to teach our children ... By modeling it ourselves. This is easier said than done but with God's grace we are able!

It's amazing, just yesterday... I was sharing with my husband the need for me to be more patient. I am setting the example of how to behave when one is frustrated.

LORD HELP!!! :)


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