Me focused
My daughter loves all things pink and princesses, she’s very girly! The other day I was watching The Princess Diaries with her. For those of you who don’t know it’s about a 15 year old girl who finds out that she is a princess and sole heir to the Genovian throne. She lives in San Francisco, and has to decide if she is willing to give up all she knows to lead the people of Genovia. Things don’t go well, and it looks like she will decline the throne, until the last moment when she changes her mind …..
When Mia decides to take on the responsibility of the throne she said that she had spent her whole life just thinking about herself, and now if was time to think of others. How much of my life and thoughts are focused on me? Probably far too much. In the west we live in a “me” society, so to some degree it is difficult not to succumb to that. As Christians though, we should set a different example, show another way, and be less me focused and much more focused on others. Sometimes it seems to big a sacrifice to make to put someone elses needs first, as it will interupt our plans. Since starting to homeschool my son, I’ve realized that I will probably have to put my Environmental Science degree on the backburner. I have another assignment due in next week of 3000 words, which I haven’t even managed to begin yet, and I can’t see me getting it finished. I have to put his needs first, he is far more precious than any piece of paper from an educational institute. Others think I’m mad homeschooling though, what about “you”? they say. What about me, I don’t know, we’ll figure that out. Right now it’s not about me. I’m aware that I have to emulate this more in the rest of my life though, and be less”me” focused. Jesus certainly wasn’t me focused when he sacrificed himself for others. How do we become less me focused? I guess the answer is to start with little things, once this is accomplished it will just become part of your rhythm of life and me will take second place to others. However it’s remembering that we have to remain me focused as well, in a healthy way. For instance, we need our own time and space to chill and replenish. Also we are no good to anyone if we are ill, we need to concentrate on getting better. Family, I think has to take priority, quality time with them, may mean letting someone down now and then. It’s the unhealthy me I think we really need to try and eliminate. The I want, I need, I must have part of our culture. I’ve rambled enough, what are your thoughts?
environmental science degree, focus, genovia, homeschool, jesus, me, others, princess diaries, sacrificeabout
Posted on June 6, 2007
Posted by lynhallewell
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Lyn I guess all homeschooling moms/parents ask themselves these questions at some point. The rest of the world seems to be growing personally and achieving so much while we’re spending hours and hours a day trying to figure out how in the world to make subtraction and spelling interesting.
Ultimately I have to ask myself this question: at the end of my life would I rather say I accomplished all of my personal, educational, and professional goals, or do I want to be able to say that I poured out my life for my child. On the surface it sounds like an easy question, but you know it’s much harder than that.
Where the rubber meets the road, like you, I look to the ultimate example of how I should live- by following Christ’s example.
I don’t do this often, but a passage comes to mind so I’m pasting it in here ,
Phil 2:5-7 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
I think that’s what you were referring to, and I couldn’t agree more. It wasn’t easy- even for the messiah, and it certainly isn’t easy for us.
Lyn, my prayers are with you, and I’ll pray that your friends will understand and respect your decision. It is a selfless choice that you’re making- to put your children before yourself.
What about me in homeschooling? What people don’t realize is that as much as home education is a sacrifice, it doesn’t go without it’s personal rewards as a woman (or man). When people used to treat me like I was an extra special person for taking this on, I used to bawk at it. Now I think, yup, I rock! But really, the rewards of the deep relationship you develop between yourself and your children is worth it all. I feel I’ve learned more than them in regards to life.
I’d wager that in the end I’ll be a much more well rounded person in the things that count. I’ve also had the priviledge of discovering things about myself that would never have been uncovered under different circumstances.
I’m not here to live for myself. If I did live for just me, I’m pretty sure I’d be no more content than I am now.
Good points, Heidi! You’re right, the rewards are immeasurable.
Cindy and Heidi, you have both made some great points and are both very encouraging. Thanks for the verse Cindy – yes, it’s what I mean. I don’t always come across well!