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Aimee Smith - Rest in the Trench

Helping homeschool moms cultivate victorious rest

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Restful Teaching: Myth or Reality?

2 Nov

Is the idea of teaching from a state of rest an unattainable myth for homeschoolers?

Numerous home educators, including myself, have been asking themselves that question. It just sounds too good to be true. Homeschool. Rest. Can those words peacefully coexist in the same sentence?

We gobble up books like Teaching from Rest: The Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace by Sarah Mackenzie. We listen to Christopher Perrin’s School as Schole (yes, schole means “leisure”) and Andrew Kern’s Teaching from a State of Rest. Blog posts containing the word rest in the title will likely grab our attention and cause us to stop and entertain the possibility. Yet, an internal voice taunts us that teaching from rest is a myth, a fleeting dream that will remain out of reach.

Why? Because we, homeschool moms, are tired. We pour our hearts into our work, but it never seems to be enough. We’re anxious, frantic, exhausted. We plan, strive, and re-plan. The day-to-day reality surrounding us appears anything but restful.

We do it all because we love our children and want to do our best. Yet, a nagging suspicion haunts us that we are not doing enough, thinking enough, being enough.

Somehow, deep in our souls, we hold out hope that it is possible. Perhaps if I can finally find the right curriculum. The right schedule. The right method. The right book on how to teach. After all, that other mom seems to have it figured out. But we’re still not sure we believe it can be our reality.

After eight years of homeschooling, I would like to say that I have figured it out. Well, sorry to disappoint, but I haven’t. You might be relieved to hear that you are not alone. And yet, perhaps that is not completely true. When it comes to teaching, my heart really is in a much more restful place than when I first began. I haven’t arrived, but I am learning.

During this journey of pursuing restful teaching, my thoughts frequently need adjustment. Otherwise, I would abandon all hope that restful teaching is possible. I have had to replace some myths with reality, some lies with truth.

Myths about Restful Teaching:

  1. Restful teaching only occurs in a neat, organized, orderly environment.
  2. Restful teaching looks like the cover photo of a homeschool magazine.
  3. Restful teaching should be easy.
  4. Restful teaching is dependent on a well-prepared plan.
  5. Restful teaching requires morning time, read-alouds, nature study, and poetry.

The Reality of Restful Teaching:

  1. Restful teaching can occur in any environment.
  2. Restful teaching isn’t about external appearance. It is a matter of the heart.
  3. Restful teaching actually requires much hard work.
  4. Restful teaching promotes learning in the midst of any interruption to the plan.
  5. Restful teaching can be cultivated by relational rituals, like reading aloud, but they’re not a magical guarantee.

At the risk of over-simplifying a complex question, I see four areas of unrest in my heart that the Lord is transforming into rest. There are four steps I have taken over the years that promote rest in my heart as a home educator. I did not set out to follow a four-step plan, but these highlight the journey that has brought me further in my pursuit of teaching from rest.

Each speaks to an area of unrest – the areas of my plan, my priorities, my people, and my purpose – that tend to foster anxiety and insecurity in my heart.

Pursue the Path of Peace: Rest with my PLAN

Create a Culture of Conversation: Rest with my PRIORITIES

Restore my Relationships through Reconciliation: Rest with my PEOPLE

Glorify the Goodness of God: Rest with my PURPOSE

I urge you to hold on to the hope that restful teaching is possible.

Individual posts are coming soon for each.

Will you join me on this journey?  Restful teaching can be your reality.

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aimeesmith.restinthetrench

Homeschooling... Seeking rest in chaos... Persevering through chronic illness... Tenaciously worshiping in trials... Clinging to Jesus through it all.

aimeesmith.restinthetrench
After a decade of homeschooling, I wonder if I'll After a decade of homeschooling, I wonder if I'll ever be consistent. Our homeschool story consists of one disruption after another life interruption. I often wonder, "if only I could be consistent..."
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I have discovered something far better. God is constant. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. You see, my consistency places the weight of success or failure on my shoulders, but God hasn't asked me to produce a successful homeschool. He has called me to praise and trust Him.
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"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!" (Psalm 57:7)
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God's constancy overshadows my consistency, or lack thereof. So I will sing His praise, and my heart will be steadfast. That's what my family really needs anyway: Mom's steadfast heart.
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#restfulhomeschool #restinthetrench #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschoolstruggles
We may not know what's ahead. . We may not know wh We may not know what's ahead.
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We may not know which direction to turn.
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But we know the One who walks with us all along the way.
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(If you aren't confident you're walking with Jesus, if you're unable to find peace, please reach out. I would love to talk with you.)
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#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschooldevotions
What if being still is a prerequisite for knowing What if being still is a prerequisite for knowing God?
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For really knowing Him. For truly believing He WILL be exalted in all the earth. For being able to relax and rest knowing all will be ok.
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"(God) says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" Psalm 46:10
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What if the AND is really a SO?
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Be still SO you *can* know. Be still in order to KNOW. .
He is God.
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Maybe this is part of why God instructs us to rest.
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#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschooldevotions #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolencouragement #homeschoolstruggles
I might have a problem. What are you reading? . #r I might have a problem. What are you reading?
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#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoolbooks
Wait. . Is this the story of our entire lives righ Wait.
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Is this the story of our entire lives right now? Why do we have such desire for something beyond the current moment? What are we waiting for?
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My mind, as yours I expect,  is filled with many unanswered questions and much uncertainty. And so we wait.
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As we wait, let's keep our focus.
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Psalm 53:9 - "I will wait on Your Name for it is good."
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Wait on Jesus. He is good.
"Restore to me the JOY of your salvation." Psalm 5 "Restore to me the JOY of your salvation." Psalm 51:12a
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Every morning. I need His restoration.
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Every morning. He gives us His Word. He offers renewal. He restores our joy.
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What did you read in God's Word today?
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#restinthetrench #restfulhomeschool #homeschoolprayers
No gatherings for worship or fellowship today. Clo No gatherings for worship or fellowship today. Clouds instead of a glorious sunrise. A threat of major storms here in the southeast. Jesus, why couldn't we at least have a beautiful day? What are You trying to accomplish?
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A few minutes in Luke 24 reveals the first Easter wasn't all glorious either. People were filled with confusion, fear, and doubt.
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Women arrived at the tomb early to serve Jesus. Peter ran to the tomb only to return with confused answers. Men walking to Emmaus encountered a puzzling stranger.
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Until they each had a personal encounter with Jesus Himself. He explained the Scriptures, opened their eyes, and gave understanding to their minds.
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Jesus gave them peace, promise, and an expectation of power. .
Their world continued in unrest, but they were changed.
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How will Jesus' peace, promise, and power change us today?
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