Today I took the kids to the river, and we brought Abe and Ethan Hyer along for good measure. It has been raining for days, so the first thing we did was plunge ankle-deep into the mud. The kids had a great time getting "stuck," then washing off in the river, which was barely cleaner than the mud itself. The girls and I wove crowns out of reeds and sunflowers and Isaiah threw dozens of rocks in. It was a good morning.
I had a few smiles and a few strange looks from bikers and runners on the bike path. Why were all these children not in school, and why were they so dirty? One well-meaning woman even pointed out that the children were getting dangerously close to the faster, deeper water, and I thanked her and told her I'd keep an eye on them.
One of the hard things about being a home school mom is finding your very own path for your family, and knowing that there will always be someone who disapproves. Even within my safer circle of home school mom friends, there are differing opinions on the "right" way to bring up a child.
But this afternoon, I was reading in First Nephi 11:32, about the Savior being judged of the world. Even His perfect, stainless life was condemned by the world at large. Then, why not mine, with all its faults? In fact--prophets, visionaries, artists, world-changers, and leaders have historically been hated and ridiculed by most people. I do not class myself with them. But it is nice to know that I am in good company when someone completely mistakes me for what I am not.
Best of all, I know that the only opinion that truly matters is His--and that's He's already made up His mind about me. I'm His, and He will defend, protect, and prosper me.
I had a few smiles and a few strange looks from bikers and runners on the bike path. Why were all these children not in school, and why were they so dirty? One well-meaning woman even pointed out that the children were getting dangerously close to the faster, deeper water, and I thanked her and told her I'd keep an eye on them.
One of the hard things about being a home school mom is finding your very own path for your family, and knowing that there will always be someone who disapproves. Even within my safer circle of home school mom friends, there are differing opinions on the "right" way to bring up a child.
But this afternoon, I was reading in First Nephi 11:32, about the Savior being judged of the world. Even His perfect, stainless life was condemned by the world at large. Then, why not mine, with all its faults? In fact--prophets, visionaries, artists, world-changers, and leaders have historically been hated and ridiculed by most people. I do not class myself with them. But it is nice to know that I am in good company when someone completely mistakes me for what I am not.
Best of all, I know that the only opinion that truly matters is His--and that's He's already made up His mind about me. I'm His, and He will defend, protect, and prosper me.
No comments:
Post a Comment