It’s Just Like Making Perfume

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would have 6 children AND I would homeschool them, I would have laughed in complete disbelief (or terror).  To me, homeschooling was the “H-word”, and I had no confidence to even know where or how to start.

Now, I have a wonderful husband, and a supportive family. We did experience some hardships, and those hardships facilitated the need to explore all educational options.

My husband had been listening to all of my concerns for my children’s educational development and he said to my utter astonishment, “Don’t rule out homeschooling”.

“What?!? Did he really just say the H-word?”  I felt a sigh of relief at exactly the same time that I felt angry at him for suggesting such a ridiculous idea.

Encouragement from God’s Word

I was reading in 2 Corinthians when I came upon this verse:

“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”  2 Corinthians 2:14

I can relate to feeling like a captive as I was led to investigate the unknown world of homeschooling, but I wasn’t too sure about how this pathway would lead to a sweet perfume.

How to Make Perfume

Here is how you make perfume: Make Your Own Signature Scent  (Method 1 of 5: Flowers in oil)

I like how this website says, “all you need is some time and some common supplies”.

Now I believe my children are exceptional, but for this analogy, they are a common entity in our house and we have plenty of time together.

Five Steps to Making Your Own Perfume

First step, “Collect some flowers that appeal to you.”
Analogy: My children.

Second step, “Fill a jar with odorless oil.”
Analogy: A biblical worldview to represent odorless oil.

Third step, “Cut the flowers off of their stems.”
Analogy: Cutting the bad part off is painful. It’s also hard to keep lighthearted when folks get upset about their MATH, but you gotta do it anyway.

Fourth step, “Open the jar after a few weeks.”
Analogy: Well, when you have babies, young kids and elementary students, sometimes it seems like you never open the door to leave the house.

Fifth step, “Spritz on your perfume and you’re done!”
Analogy: The fruit of our labors definitely has splashes of joy and beauty. We are still in the process of refining, and we always will be.

Following God is a wonderful adventure. Just keep your eyes fixed on Him!