Charity and Homeschooling

I just wanted to share a post I made to one of my homeschooling loops. There have been many threads pertaining to discipline, homeschooling blues, managing a home while homeschooling, etc. Although I didn't have any words of wisdom or quick cures to any of these dilemmas, I offered this:

..... I really do forget to think of everyone else as human. Instead I assume everyone else is homeschooling peacefully in their homes and that if I could just discover the secret everything would be perfect.

But if that were the case, we wouldn't need Heaven. Heaven is perfect love and perfect peace! I'm just glad that I get to share this journey, with all its bumps and rough spots, with my kids and hubby. And yes, in God's mercy, he does sprinkle in WONDERFUL days in there for me. Kinda like that dangling carrot. Sometimes I'm just amazed that he lets me go so long before giving me one of those days. But as soon as He does, I'm okay!!

All you great moms are in my prayers always (even if I don't know you all by name). You brave moms get the 2nd decade of our rosary. The kids used to think I was just praying for myself but I said, "Oh no! This is for ALL homeschooling moms!!"

Today at mass Fr. CY reflected on the gospel reading and spoke at great lengths about love and Chiarra Lubich. Chiarra Lubich is founder of the Focolare Movement. She is one of my favorite people. Every month her "Word of Life" reflections inspire and remind me to love more perfectly!! This month she said:

Just as the embers in a fireplace have to be stirred to prevent them from being smothered by the ashes, it is necessary from time to time to take steps to revive our mutual love and give fresh life to our relationship with everyone, so that they will not be smothered by the ashes of indifference, apathy and selfishness.

How true this is!! And so reflecting on the gospel, Fr. Cy's homily, and Chiarra's message I see that the secret to "perfect" homeschooling is to love perfectly while teaching, regardless of whether my kids are perfectly behaved or understanding the material (or wanting to school!!). My love and kindness and mercy and forgiveness will make our homeschool life perfect because that's what life is all about .... God's grace. I'm supposed to be teaching them these things, first!! Math and English and reading are secondary!!

When we attended the family retreat a few weeks ago we wrote up our family mission statement. For our family scripture verse we chose 1 Peter 4:8-9

Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

Have a blessed Sunday!! As St. Augustine said, "Love and do as you will."