2012 is nearing its end and it’s time for evaluation and reflection before we head into another chapter – the story of 2013.

As homeschooling mothers we often use this time to review, to reflect upon various aspects of our family and our lives. Throughout 2012 I have taught manners, English, Maths and Science. I’ve taught life skills, domestic skills, health, fitness and Bible study. The children have grown spiritually, physically and academically. As I reflect upon our maturing brood I can see a common denominator which doesn’t change with our circumstances. Our years have been filled with ups and downs, with hurts, disappointments and with overwhelming joy. We’ve been in different states, different houses with different age groups and using different curriculum.We’ve shared good food and some so-so food. We’ve watched movies, taken photos, played together and fought together. We’ve shared many things together.

John 21:15-19 as an evaluation tool

Do You Love Me?

But have I shared my greatest passion with my family? What is my passion?  Is my greatest passion truly Christ? Do I love Him before all else?

Feed My Lambs

Have I fed the lambs that God has entrusted to my care? Have I fed them Christ Himself? Have I opened up God’s word and shown them Christ… have I taught them to love God, to trust Him and to do His will by way of a living example?

Feed the lambs… tend the sheep. Have I loved the children with a shepherd’s love? Love, protection, guidance and provision of needs is very important but they also need Soul-Food … the pure word of God.

Evaluation, assessments, outcomes all look for fruit but the truest form of learning in the life of a believer is to follow Christ. Knowledge, even of spiritual matters, may have some value but it does not attain for us that much needed salvation. The outcome of seeing and knowing is living and doing.

Follow Me

All year I have seen Jesus through the gospels. I’ve read His words. Now I need to follow Him. The events of the past year cannot be changed. Whether or not the years was a good one or a hard slog, the important thing is to put one foot in front of the other… walk the road, one step at a time. Keeping eyes on the path ahead. Don’t walk backwards in life. The only reason for looking backwards is to learn from mistakes- but regrets are a waste of time and energy.

Little by little, one travels far.

As this year closes and a new one will begin there is only one way for 2013 to be better – and that is by following Christ more closely – to go where He leads, without questioning or rationalising. I don’t know what 2013 will bring for me or our family. With grandchildren on the way it will undoubtedly be a time of great joy but with it I know that there may also be times of trial, of tiredness, of financial hardship. Those things are not within my control. Much of what happens in 2013 will not be mine to question. Rather my only duty is to obey and follow Him.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
~John 21:15-19

~Susan