Nurturing the Shepherd’s Heart in Mom and Dad
Refreshing Your Soul to Lead Your Flock
Welcome to the Revival Homeschool Heartbeat, our homeschool newsletter at www.revivalhomeschool.tv! Last time, we explored “Setting a God-Centered Vision for a Joyful New School Year!” Now, it’s time to tend your heart so you can lead with joy. Inspired by Dr. James Dobson’s burnout-busting wisdom in Parenting Isn’t for Cowards and Heidi St. John’s soul-stirring devotions in The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, we’re diving into Psalm 23’s promise of green pastures.
Picture this: It’s 6 a.m., your coffee’s gone cold, and that pile of lesson plans is giving you the side-eye. You’re the shepherd of your little flock, but who’s refilling your cup when the sheep are baa-ffling and the math workbook’s staging a coup? Ready to trade weary for wondrous? Let’s unpack three pillars, Rest in His Presence, Release the Guilt Grip, and Rally with Rhythm, to nurture your shepherd’s heart and prep for next month’s strong-willed learner showdown. Grab your Bible, warm up that coffee, and let’s go!
Rest in His Presence: Dawn as Your Anchor
Ever feel like your homeschool day starts with a sprint, only to crash by noon? Heidi St. John gets it, she’s been there, juggling kids and crayons while clinging to Jesus. In The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight, she invites us to anchor our mornings in God’s truth before the chaos kicks in. Think of Psalm 23:2, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” That’s not just poetry; it’s your survival plan! Try a 10-minute “Daylight Ritual”: Sip that coffee (hot this time), crack open Heidi’s devotional for a quick Scripture, and journal one verse, like “He restores my soul.” Dobson chimes in from Parenting Isn’t for Cowards: Parenting without soul fuel is like herding cats in a thunderstorm…doable, but why? A time of devotion can shift a whole day from frazzled to focused. So, set that phone reminder to kickstart your quiet time. You’re not just a parent, you’re a shepherd under the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). Rest in Him, and watch your heart refill…