Paraphrase of a verse of scripture

This morning in my devotions I was reading Proverbs 14. I got to verse 4 and something hit me. Here is what the verse says in the NKJV.

"Prov. 14:4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox."

I don't know why but an application to homeschool life hit me through that verse. What if if read: 

Where no children are, the house is clean; but much increase comes by the joy of a child. 

If we sent our children off to school it would be much easier to keep the house clean. There would not be science experiments on the counter top, books strewn everywhere, book cases in every room in the house, paper on the floor, glue and paint on our tables, maps and whiteboards on our walls instead of expensive paintings. But we would loose so much. Seeing the joy on a child's face when they read their first book, watching them learn and grow, watching them grow as siblings having brothers and sisters as best friends, reaching their hearts with the Word of God. And once in a while there is a glimmer of goodness and hope in them. Seeing them reach out and help each other, help someone else, be selfless, protect a weaker brother or sister, or show love and care to older people... and once in a while you can even get some work out of them... LOL... using that youthful strength for the good of the family or the good of their church.

One day... not to far away for me... for my youngest is now 14... my home will be clean and quiet for they will all leave to start homes of their own. Then I will wish for the noise and chaos they brought and remember the good old days. Hopefully they will live near enough that I will have a part in homeschooling my grandchildren ... but just a part... then I can send them back home and have some peace again.

I would not trade these 20 years of homeschooling for a cleaner house any day!  (ok... well... most days)

I am also going to submit this post to The Christian Home blog carnival. Click the link to learn more about it and I will let you know when the carnival is posted next Monday.



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