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WINTER 2017
HOMESCHOOL IOWA 15
Corrie is kind, even when others are not. She is nice to the
rude cashier. She reaches out to the lady at church who
is unfriendly and distant to her. Corrie is gentle as she in-
teracts with her children throughout the day. Even when
she corrects them, her tone of voice is kind. When a rude
relative questions her on homeschooling (What about so-
cialization? Isn’t Susie a little behind in her reading? Are
the kids involved in any activities outside the home? What
about the prom?), Corrie does not become defensive, but
kindly and patiently answers their questions.
Corrie does not envy the homeschooling moms who
seem to have it all together. (Actually, no homeschooling
mom has it all together, no matter how things appear.) She
does not envy the family whose children begin calculus
in seventh grade and sing together in perfect harmony.
While her family of nine is crowded into a 1,000 square
foot house, Corrie is not envious of her friend, who has two
children, and lives in a 3,000 square foot house (and even
has an extra room just for school). She is content with the
family and circumstances that God has given to her.
When Corrie’s children behave better than another mom’s
children, Corrie is not boastful or conceited. When her four
year old is reading and her friend’s seven year old is not,
Corrie does not smugly suggest that her friend should
homeschool just like her. When Corrie’s teenagers love the
Lord and are active in church, Corrie knows that this is far
more because of God’s grace than her parenting. Because
of this, she does not look down on parents whose teenag-
ers and young adult children have strayed. Instead she is
filled with compassion and prays for them. Corrie does not
look down on her friend whose marriage is struggling.
Instead, she feels grateful that her marriage is strong and
prays for her friend.
Corrie does not act improperly. She is not obnoxious.
She is not rude. She does not monopolize the conversa-
tion. Corrie does not insist on everything being her way.
She does not try to be the focus of attention. She does not
have a critical spirit.
Corrie is not selfish. She continually defers to others. She
enjoys devoting her life to her family. Personal fulfillment
takes a back seat to serving her family and others. While
she may get together with a friend from time to time or
go to a ladies’ Bible study, her life does not revolve around
“me time” but instead her focus is on being a helpmeet to
her husband and raising her children for the Lord.
Corrie is not provoked. When her day does not go as
planned, Corrie accepts this as “interruptions” from God.
When her child is disobedient or disrespectful, she does
not become angry, but gently and firmly corrects his be-
havior. Corrie does not get irritated when she has worked
hard all afternoon to make her husband’s favorite dinner
and he calls to tell her he will be working late into the eve-
ning that day.
Corrie does not keep a record of wrongs done against her.
Ten years into her marriage, she will not bring up how her
husband blew it on their honeymoon. She understands
that her husband, parents, children, friends, and spiritual
leaders will hurt her sometimes (just as she will hurt oth-
ers sometimes). She does not replay these hurts over and
over again in her mind. Instead, she prays for the person
who hurt her and thinks of ways she can be a blessing to
them. Knowing that a bitter heart is Satan’s playground,
she refuses to hold grudges.
Corrie finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in
the truth. She takes no pleasure in worldliness. No matter
how fascinating or funny the story line might be, she does
not watch movies or TV shows that glorify sin. She is not
amused when her children behave sinfully, no matter how
cute they might be. Instead, Corrie rejoices when her chil-
dren respond to others in a Christ-like manner. She takes
great joy in teaching her children the truth of Scripture.
Even when life gets really tough, Corrie bears all things
and endures all things. When she has a child who is ex-
tra stubborn, she continues to love this child and to disci-
pline him. When her child with special needs just doesn’t
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the grea test of these is love.
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