The Greatest of These...

Though I speak with the tongues of toddlers and teenagers, 

and have not charity, 

I become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

(cymbal? really?...every mom knows how annoying that is!)  

 And though I have a college degree and teaching certificate,

 understand all algebra and chemistry problems,

and the effects of all historical events; 

and though I have all faith, 

so that I could remove mountains of laundry from the couch, 

teach all lessons, do science experiments and, 

and take a nature walk all before lunch, 

and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to buy curriculum, 

and though I give my feet to be stepped on a hundred times every.single.day, 

and though I use cloth diapers and feed my kids organic peanut butter on sprouted grain bread, 

and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth loooooong...twenty four hours a day and seven days a week, 

and is kind; 

charity envieth not the baby's two hour nap 

(nor the homeschool mom on a month long history field trip on the east coast);  

charity admits mistakes to the children and asks forgiveness,

 Doth not behave itself unseemly,  

seeketh not her own, 

is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 Charity never faileth: 

but whether there be blog posts and conventions, 

they shall fail; 

whether there be legislative agendas and organization books, 

they shall cease; 

whether there be support groups and park days, 

they shall vanish away.

 For we know only what the kids confess.

 But when they are all grown up, 

then they will tell it all...haha.

 When I was a child, I spake as a child, 

I understood as a child, I thought as a child: 

but when I became a mom, I put away childish things

(except hiding the chocolate!)

 For now we see through a glass, darkly 

(probably because of the smeared peanut butter and honey); 

but then face to face...(which will be amazing to not have to bend down for every conversation)

now I know in part; but then shall I know...
yep, everything that is now outside the statute of limitations.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; 

but the greatest of these is charity.

One of the most important parts of raising our children is loving them.  I know it sounds so very simple.  But, it's that simple.  Why is love the greatest message that we can send to our children?  Because love is the gospel.  "For God so loved the world..." John 3:16.

 Of course, there are lessons to learn and character to be taught but the greatest of these is love.  No educational philosophy, child rearing technique, co-op class, blog post, math lesson, science experiment, or chore training is as important as loving our kids in the everyday...and maybe letting go of some of those ideas that we champion...if it means winning the hearts of our children.  :)

If these things are a higher place than love, we are distorting the gospel message.  No matter how much we sacrifice for our children, if we don't communicate love in a way that they understand and fill their little tanks (even those seemingly bottomless ones...yes I have one of those too!) we are putting them at risk of rejecting the gospel.  I don't think that I would receive the gospel message of love from someone whom I wasn't sure really loved me.


So, when the laundry is piled up and the dishes are stacked in the sink, remember that those things are not the highest priority.  The greatest of these is LOVE!





*This retelling of the love chapter is my own creation and meant to bring the basic ideas found in 1 Corinthians 13 into the lives of the modern homeschool mother.  This is not meant to be an exact interpretation and not meant to offend anyone who might not like the liberties taken.