It's Teacher Appreciation Week. Yes, that is a thing. You probably don't know it, because rarely does anyone appreciate you, much less acknowledge that you are actually a "teacher". But you are. Even if you don't see it.
No one appreciates a mom less than the mom herself. No one is harder on you than you. You find yourself self-flagellating on a constant basis. Did I do enough? Did I give enough? What is enough? There is always something undone. You know. You have a list longer than you are tall. Because not only are you the mom, you are "The Teacher".
You are always wondering if you've been successful. Are you covering the basics? Are you overlooking the electives? Do you need to change curriculums? Do you need to add a subject? Take one away? Test more? Test less? Test at all? Are they retaining? Responding? Reacting?
Stop.
Just stop.
I wish that I could give you some chocolate. We all need a little bit. I have Dove Promises, both milk and dark. They're pretty hard to resist. And you certainly deserve one. Probably you deserve a whole bag. And a vacation. And a pony if you want one. Unfortunately, all I can offer you is this:
I'm not here to tell you you are enough. The matter is simple: you're not. You already know that. I am here to tell you this: He is.
And HE SEES YOU. He sees you struggle, but more than that He sees your faithfulness. To get back up. Every. Single. Time. doubt knocks you down. He sees your heart: full of love for your children and a desire to cherish and serve them by teaching that at home. He sees your willingness to forgive. He sees your perseverance, how you get up and try again over and over. He knows your desire to do His will at the cost of ever being acknowledged, trusting that if the only "well done" you ever hear is from Him it will be enough.
He keeps all His promises. And trust me, they are so much better than little chocolate squares. He promises to finish the good work He started in you. You can see this through because He will see you through.
"I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 HCSB
You can finish your good work because He will always finish His. And you, my sweet friend, are most definitely doing the Lord's work.
So if no one ever tells you, " thank you" I will.
Thank you for carrying on. Thank you for pushing through the swamping fear and doubt. Thank you for the cool science projects and the dramatic art failures. Thank you for the hours spent reading out loud, for the careful explanation of grammar terms. Thank you for spelling the same word 6,000 times. Thank you for grading endless multiplication facts.Thank you for carefully choosing curriculum. Thank you for constantly evaluating, tweaking, changing, always striving for perfection. Thank you for loving your family well. Thank you for listening to His voice even when the world tries its hardest to drown Him out. Thank you for praying, for seeking, for loving selflessly. Thank you for your humility, and for leading, for showing strength even when you can't see it yourself.
Thank you being "mom" but also for being "Teacher". Thank you. I don't have to know you to know that you are amazing. Continue in faithfulness. And that, echoing the Apostle Paul, this is the cry of my heart for you:
"I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:16-21 HCSB
Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
Your fellow homeschool mom,
Clare