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Even though I’ve studied the words “meek” and “quiet” in many bible studies over the years, it’s been hard for me to give up the instinctual picture of a woman described with those words. I picture a woman who fearfully does her husband’s bidding, who never shares her opinion, a woman who is more like a shadow then a vibrantly colored soul.

With that weak image, I haven’t spent a lot of time wishing myself into that picture or those words.

When I picked up “Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit”, I started it more on the recommend from other friends than on a real interest in my heart.

Within, the first chapter, the Lord has wiped away my very un-biblical idea of the words and instead placed in my heart a real desire to embody them.

My favorite definition of meek is “mild of temper, not easily provoked or irritated“. And for quiet it is “peacable, not turbulent, contented.”  

Even as I write the definitions a little sigh escapes me.  Acquiring these qualities makes life seem so much more-easy.  Not easy of course, that’s not really what I mean.  But if I’m not so quick to find frustration in every aspect of the day that doesn’t go my way-if I’m not easily provoked by the fighting over toys before we even start breakfast, by the child who doesn’t want to do her schoolwork, but the little boy who just wants attention, by the chores that lay ahead and might not get done. If I can ride those waves instead of fall under them, doesn’t life sound so much-more.  More joy(for everyone), more contentment, more invested in the moments of the day instead of how to pass them by quickly to the end.

This is the best book that I’ve read on homeschooling in a long time. (and really on life as well).  After introducing the idea of a meek and quiet heart, she goes on through the chapters to talk about what robs us of attaining this heart.

Speaking about Moses she says,

“What made him meek? I would suggest that, as with Jesus, it was his intimate, personal time with the God who called him to lead the people of Israel.”

More than turning to a new curriculum book, a friend who has all of the answers, or just quitting all together, Maxwell urges her reader on to seek the Lord at every turn.  And she does so with examples from her own life.

“I know there are plenty of other activities I could have done…during that half-hour..I spent with the Lord. We could have done more schooling, had a cleaner house, more fun playtimes, more ministry, more individual time with each child, more writing, more sewing, more exercise or more sleep! I know there is nothing that could have had the impact on my life, or the lives of my family members, than time with the Lord.  Any other decision for that time would have been one more robber of a meek and quiet spirit.”

When I see a problem in my life and go looking for the solution, it is often to gird up, to invest more time, to TAKE CARE of that problem.  If I’ve struggled with the care of our house, work harder and get more organized.  If I’ve struggled with a parenting issue, buckle down on discipline or spend more individual time.  If I’m not sleeping, well, then it’s certainly my right to sleep whenever I can grab the chance.  So it’s easy to justify the putting off of time with God-because I convince myself the effort I’m putting forth in that said time is what God would have me do.

But the author says give to God first.  Our only real need is Jesus.

In some ways there is rest in that idea.  Instead of doing it all on the strength I can muster, I can first give it over to God, sit with Him, and then see what the rest of the day brings.

Right now, there’s a pretty clear “robber” of my meek and quiet spirit.  I’m 35 weeks pregnant and not sleeping more than a handful of hours.  After a few weeks of this, it’s hard to keep out the crankiness in my voice and actions.  And the whole family has picked up on it pretty quickly.

Which means that other robbers, like issues to work out with the kids, daily chores and school, and a busy husband at work, seem tripled in size at the moment.  

But for the last week, the Lord has been telling me in a pretty loud voice “Come to me.  Pray to me.  Have absolute faith in my when you ask.”

Finally this morning I gave in.

Here’s a word for my next week, day, hour:

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”
Psalm 119