“A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away.”

Ecclesiastes 3

I love how the Word can be both simple and profound. The sun rises and sets, the seasons change, and there is no rush or delay in between. Everything is beautiful in its moment in time. God made it so, and He also reminds us that there is a time for everything in the 24 hours of the day. The culture we live in, though, tells us otherwise. Life moves quickly; time is filled with all sorts of responsibilities between work schedules, school, and games (not to mention the time consumed in making decisions in between the things we remember and the things we forget!). The day can get away from us as quickly as water flows through our fingers. So, pause for a second and ask yourself: If I have only one more day to live, how would I spend the time?

The first things that come to mind are usually what we prioritize. Write them down. Making priorities clear helps us to create anchors along our day. As a homeschooling parent, the day revolves around my child’s learning schedule. Even my work schedule must adhere to their learning because their learning is my priority. God will supply the missing income. We can always make another dollar, but we cannot make another minute. As challenging as it may be to fit everything in a day, I have discovered that when I give my first hour to the Lord, I can handle the rest of the day much better. In that hour, I can exchange my anxieties for His Truth and practice learning to be still in His presence (which is no easy task for an impatient person like me). This practice gives me direction with the way my child learns.

At first, I thought that the learning had to take place during the day, but I discovered that my child actually learns better at night when we are winding down. Play and exploration happen during the day, which naturally leads to our learning at night. Homeschooling is not meant to replicate a school day, so I must adjust our schedule accordingly.

When are the times of the day when your student is most receptive? It is worth taking the time to observe them. What are their likes and dislikes? What motivates them? Good relationships do not just happen. They require an investment of your time, and that is the time best spent.

Want to know where the time goes? Try out the activity below…then invest accordingly into what matters the most.