Beyond Homeschool Mom Burnout through Christ-centered living and Forgiveness

Beyond Homeschool Mom Burnout through Christ-centered living and Forgiveness

Homeschooling is a beautiful journey filled with love, dedication, and countless moments of joy. Yet, it can also be overwhelming and lead to burnout if we're not careful. As homeschool moms, we carry an immense responsibility that can sometimes feel like a heavy burden. But in Christ-centered living, we find strength, renewal, and the power of forgiveness.

Make Forgiveness A Practice

"Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The root of "forgive" is the Latin word "perdonare," meaning "to give completely, without reservation." To forgive is to give up the right to punish completely. When we forgive, we are letting go of the pain and resentment that hold us back, offering ourselves a way out of the emotional turmoil. Forgiveness reconnects us with the truth of love, freeing us from the disconnection that causes so much pain.

Forgiveness sets us free from guilt and shame, realigning us with who God wants us to be. This act of grace helps us become who we want to be as followers of Christ. Withholding forgiveness can lead to burnout and disconnection from ourselves and God. Part of healing from burnout involves our capacity to forgive. However, forgiveness is not always easy. We may feel that by forgiving someone, we are saying "it's okay" or condoning their behavior. This isn't what forgiveness is. Instead, forgiveness releases us from the trap of resentment. It means acknowledging that while the way we were treated was not excused, we release and forgive the person and the situation to God.

When we forgive, we heal. This is why God tells us to forgive one another. Forgiveness is a powerful initiation of the heart. Scientific studies have shown that when we focus on love and forgiveness, our heart rhythms even out and become healthier, hormone levels normalize, and we can even reverse heart disease and stress-related conditions. The electromagnetic field of the heart is 40 times stronger than that of the brain, positively influencing every cell in our bodies and those around us.

As homeschool moms, we are called to forgive others and ourselves. Wallowing in failure keeps us stuck, but forgiveness is the ticket to moving forward. Homeschool moms have an overwhelming number of responsibilities, and it is impossible to do them all perfectly. Change your expectations. We often create unrealistic standards for ourselves, defining success and failure in narrow terms. Examine the consequences of your day-to-day failures; they might not be as significant as you perceive them to be. Recognize that failure is part of the learning process. Dismiss guilt and embrace remorse and the ability to change. Model learning from mistakes instead of stewing and remaining stagnant in failure. Let go of the little failures and give yourself a fresh start every day. Acknowledge that not all of your failures are within your control. Our definition of success evolves as we grow. Mistakes can be a source of growth, a learning process, not a failure. We only fail when we quit.

"The greatest gift of forgiveness is that we free ourselves." - Debbie Ford

Heart-Centered Living

What does it mean to live a heart-centered life, and how do we get there? Are you living for others? Can you care for others while also caring for yourself? A person with an open heart experiences as much joy and bliss in serving others as in fulfilling their own needs. We should all be connected as one heart; your suffering is another's suffering, and your joy is my joy.

What gets in the way of your open heart? Do you have a heart for the Lord? Trust your desire if it’s in Him. Trust your heart in the face of fear. Whatever state your heart may be in, acknowledge it within yourself without judgment. Notice the body tension, the emotional turmoil, and the self-harming thought patterns associated with these ways of reacting to others and life. What would it be like to shift from this contracted state into a space of being heart-centered? What would it do for you? What could it do for others?

For 2000 years, the heart has been considered the primary center of perception, associated with mental processes, insight, memory, expressive communication, and unconditional love, faith, and creativity. The heart has a complex nervous system with 40,000 neurons that detect hormones, neurochemicals, heart rate, and blood pressure. Your heart has its own brain and can act independently of the brain in your head. The heart and brain receive and respond to information about future events before they occur, but the heart appears to receive this information intuitively before the brain. It knows first. But sometimes, we feel a split between our head and our heart.

The 9 Virtues of Christ and Heart-Centred Living

Certain qualities sustain heart-centered living. With the conscious cultivation of these qualities, it is easier to deliver love to yourself and others.

1. Authenticity - Speak truthfully and kindly, honoring your feelings and beliefs. Let go of the need to please others, to hold back, or to fit in. Honor God first.

2. Connection - Seek opportunities for meaningful interactions with others. Reach out and extend yourself with generosity.

3. Healthy Relationships - Surround yourself with people who understand you and make you feel good. Seek and befriend these people. God tells us to be present with other believers.

4. Compassion - Be kind to yourself and others. Tend to your own suffering as you would that of a small child. Nurture this relationship with yourself.

5. Forgiveness - Sometimes the mind needs to forgive before the heart is free to love. When we are in a true state of unconditional love, there is nothing to forgive.

6. Giving and Receiving - Sustaining connection relies on your capacity to both give and receive. How can you ask for it or provide it?

7. Service - How is your heart guiding you to serve? An open heart feels abundant and intuitively wants to share through service.

8. Devotion - A heart-centered life is an expression of devotion—to yourself, others, your family, and your community. What are you devoted to? What speaks to your heart?

9. Courage - This virtue naturally radiates when your heart is open. It may be expressed as courage to speak your truth, do the right thing, or follow the beat of your own drum—your heart.

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-h3j74-1644cb7

Embracing a Christ-Centred Life

1. Immerse yourself in the all-sufficient wonder of God - Immerse yourself in the God who reveals himself in Scripture, conscience, creation, and ultimately in Christ. Let this beautiful, brilliant, all-powerful God drive out the idols of our culture’s fascination with self-made gods. Let Him leave you in awe.

2. Find others who think like you do - Long-term spiritual health is often tied to your involvement with a local church. Despite its imperfections, the church is God’s means of changing the world. Your local church is an outpost of heaven, an embassy of the kingdom in a world adrift from love, grace, compassion, and truth.

3. Forgive, fear, fight - Summarize what you’ve learned: Forgive others, fear God, fight the good fight of faith. Bearing grudges against those who have hurt you does no good. Reflect on what you’ve been forgiven of, and this will help you forgive others. Living in the fear of God gives you wisdom and the strength to fight the good fight of faith.

4. Pursue the unfashionable virtues - Some biblical virtues are harder to embrace in different eras. Pursue virtues like submission and humility, even when they are not popular. Discover the freedom in letting someone godly have authority over you and the joy in admitting when you don’t know the answer.

5. Use your mind - In a culture that values feelings over thoughts, remember the importance of logic, reason, and carefully articulated arguments. While feelings are important, they are not the be-all and end-all of who we are. Seek first God’s kingdom and pursue His glory. As you do, you will find life to the full.

check out my blogs on:

The Homeschool Mom and Her Emotions

Rising From The Ashes:My Story From Burnout to Balance

How The Homeschool Mom Can Fight Burnout Through Nutrition

Conclusion

Homeschool moms, you are called to a journey of immense love and dedication. Embrace forgiveness as a constant practice, allowing it to free your heart and mind. Live a heart-centered life, rooted in the love of Christ, and find joy in both serving others and caring for yourself. Remember, you are not alone on this journey. God’s love and grace are with you every step of the way, guiding you towards a life of fulfillment and peace.