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When Thou Liest Down…

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:6,7

These beautiful words are a powerful command to Christian parents. Often used–and rightly so–as an example of the discipleship model of homeschooling, these verses have become a great encouragement to me in a whole new way.

For the past ten years I have struggled with severe, often crippling, fatigue. Sometimes better, sometimes worse, but always there presenting a challenge to one degree or another. Five of those years, including this one, I have spent partially bedridden.

This has been such a heartache and frustration to me and extremely difficult for our whole family. It has been an exhausting struggle, not just against the fatigue, but against discouragement too. God is so faithful though and has continually shown Himself, and His hand, in it all.

whenthouliestdown

Six years ago – when I was expecting Baby # 8 and my health had plummeted yet again – I was lying in bed staring at my boring ceiling and feeling like a useless blob with a stream of despairing thoughts running through my mind:

“I’m missing even more precious time with my children. The household is turned upside down. My husband is bearing a huge burden… and to top it off, I’m too miserable to read, memorize Scripture, watch Jane Austen movies, organize my recipes or otherwise utilize all this lovely free time. Nope, all I can do is lay and stare. How can I teach my children? How in the world can I be of any use to God when I can’t even get out of bed or do anything?”

Suddenly Deuteronomy 6:6,7  popped into to my mind. It was one of those moments where you feel like God puts a comforting Hand on your shoulder and speaks Truth right into your ear.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:6,7

He drew my attention to the words “When thou liest down”. Aha! The light of Truth broke through my dark discouragement as God reminded me again that no matter how hard things are, no matter what condition I am in, I still need to be obedient to Him and I still have a responsibility to all the young eyes watching me. Our children are always learning from us – for better or for worse – and we are always, always teaching, whether we realize it or not.

Charlotte Mason sums it up thus:

“The child breathes the atmosphere emanating from his parents; that of the ideas which rule their own lives.”

Whether I am up, reading books, baking cookies, and going on walks with my children, or whether I am in bed unable to sit up and do a thing, the example I am setting for them will leave a strong impression one way or the other. Through all these difficult days the hearts, minds and souls of the the young lives in my charge are being trained and formed. They are not on “pause” just because I can’t mother them the way I long to and in the perfect way I envision. They will either learn to doubt God or they will learn to trust Him.

If I can do nothing more than lie in bed I can do it with a good attitude and a smile for them when they come in the room. I can still provide a happy atmosphere in the home. I can avoid complaining. I can praise them for the extra work they have to do while Mommy is sick. I can encourage them to be a help to Daddy with a good attitude. I can pray for them. I can admire the cards they bring me. I can speak to them kindly. I can talk to them about the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father and the lessons we are learning through this trial. I can glorify God and point my children to Him by the way I conduct myself in times of trial and adversity. I can repent and apologize to them when I fail at all of the above. I can walk with God even when my body cannot move at all – and it is absolutely imperative that I do so.

I hope these thoughts will encourage you as they have me. Your trials will not be just like mine, but the beautiful truth of the Word of God applies in every circumstance. As mothers, we have eternal souls in our care that we are responsible for no matter what our situation in life is like. When things are going well we need to point our children to God. When times are hard we need to point our children to God.

May we be faithful to love Him with all our “heart, soul and might” and to teach this love for Him and the truth of His Holy Word diligently to our children. We can teach them when we sit down – whether it be because we are just to weak to stand, or to gather everyone around to read a book; when we walk along the way -whether our steps are faltering or strong;
when we lie down – on the couch in absolute exhaustion, or in green pastures as we study a flower alongside a child;
and when we rise up – as we climb the Hill Difficulty, or on wings like eagles.

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Filed Under: Be Not Weary, Home Education 5 Comments

« What Does Virtuous Really Mean?
Deuteronomy 6, Scholé, and Homeschooling Through Affliction »

Comments

  1. Tara says

    June 26, 2016 at 2:31 am

    Thank you for your insights on this. After years of cycles of pregnancy and life with an infant I was looking forward to a summer of having energy and doing things! I recently found out that I have a few health issues and am going to need to give my body time to heal. This has challenged my perspective.

    Reply
    • jmcbride says

      June 29, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      Thanks for your note! I’m glad it was encouraging. I hopped over to your blog, and boy, can I relate to so much about what you say there! I’ll be praying for you.

      Reply
  2. Amanda Roby says

    June 28, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    Jen, I found your blog through the talk you did with Mystie on planning. I’m in my early 30s, but I have been disabled since my late teens. I’d just started realizing what stability and productivity could mean in my life when fatigue hit me a month or so ago. I have a four year old and a 2.5 year old, and have been planning to homeschool for years before we even had our first. This new _thing_, this fatigue like a tiredness I’ve never experienced, a weariness that invades body, mind, and spirit, has brought me to my knees. Of course, that is a good place to be, so long as we are on our knees before Our Most High. He brought me here today, to read your message, and your words have helped me realize and grasp Hope. Thank you, sister-in-Christ, for your courage in sharing. For your courage in keeping on. For your courage in diligently walking his path, even when, as you say, that comes when you can’t even rise from your bed. You have inspired and helped me, even though I can’t get out of my bed today, except for the most basic care for my kids.

    Reply
    • jmcbride says

      June 29, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      Thanks for the kind words. I’m so glad it was encouraging and I will be praying for you!

      Reply

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  1. Deuteronomy 6, Scholé, and Homeschooling Through Affliction says:
    July 5, 2016 at 8:39 pm

    […] may do a lot more sitting and lying down than rising up and walking, but I can teach my children just the same. Fellow weary mothers, […]

    Reply

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“Posterity! You will never know, how much it cos “Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it.” - John Adams
"So they committed themselves to the will of God a "So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed." ~ William 
Bradford

This one of my all time favorite quotes ever. The story behind it makes it even more powerful. The faith and long term vision our Pilgrim forefathers had never ceases to amaze me. I respect them so much that I have a little girl named after Priscilla Mullins. 

They knew the direction they needed to go. They knew it would be hard. They knew most people thought they were crazy. They knew they might not see the fruits of their labor for many years. They knew they were lighting small candles and sowing seeds. They knew it would require the greatest of sacrifices. 

They did it for their children and for their families - for freedom and new life for them. They did it because they were walking in obedience to the Almighty God that they knew and loved.

When I think of their grit and perseverance- what it cost them and what it gained all of us-it puts my own mountains in perspective and helps me to face them with renewed strength and encouragement. Their firm trust in God encourages me keep my eyes on my faithful Father and to follow in the way He leads; to keep putting one step in front of the other. Even when the road is long and weary, to resolve to proceed.
“It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, “It was November - the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines...” - L.M. Montgomery.
"The adversaries of truth are many, influential, l "The adversaries of truth are many, influential, learned, and crafty; and truth fares ill at their hands; and yet the man of God has no cause for trepidation. Agencies, seen and unseen, of the most potent kind, are on the side of righteousness. God has armies in ambush which will reveal themselves in the hour of need. The forces which are on the side of the good and the true far outweigh the powers of evil. Therefore, let us keep our spirits up, and walk with the gait of men who possess a cheering secret, which has lifted them above all fear. We are on the winning side. The battle may be sharp, but we know how it will end. Faith, having God with her, is in a clear majority: "They that be with us are more than they that be with them."" -C.H. Spurgeon
"When I think of just myself and my little cares, "When I think of just myself and my little cares,
Looming large and crowding close, hindering my prayers,
Of my weakness and my sins, I am sore depressed;
Weary, weary grows my thought; I can find no rest.

When I think upon the world and its many woes -
Hunger, misery and crime - how the long list grows!
Greed and hatred and unrest, strifes that never cease,
Weary, weary grows my thought; I can find no peace.

When I meditate on Thee and Thy works, O Lord,
On Thy strength and majesty, on Thy changeless word;
On Thy Steadfast faithfulness, reaching to the sky;
On Thy patient, watchful care over such as I;
 
On Thine everlasting love, high and strong and deep;
On Thy wisdom and Thy truth and Thy power to keep;
When I think of what Thou art and what Thy power has done;
When I number all the gifts given in Thy Son -- 

I forget the things that pass in the things that bide,
And my soul can rest in peace, fed and satisfied."

~ Annie Johnson Flint
"Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ "Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ's blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul" - Charles Spurgeon
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