Hi Smiley77 ~ Thanks for stopping by. 🙂 Your comment reminded me of another post I had written, “Seasoning my speech with grace” I’m reminded of what I wrote back in 2006 (Oh dear, have I been blogging that long?)

What is it that I want to speak about the most? A method of homeschooling? A style of cooking? A brand of clothing? Something particular that may have worked for me? I want to share what I’ve found to be the best – in life, in homeschooling, in everything! And that, is the all gracious, all powerful, all knowing God…the God of the Bible. This is the only gospel that I want to ‘preach’ for that is what is essential for salvation…for that it truly worthwhile. We don’t know how long we have on this earth, to do that which He has called us to do- may we make the most of our time and our resources. May we seek His grace, for our lives… that our speech would be seasoned with grace when we speak to our husband, our children, family and those that we come into contact with.

🙂

Howdy hi sweet petal,
Yeah, I am saying that we should be careful of what we write. Mainly because in our real life we have a responsibility with our words and actions so naturally that should translate into our online life. Just as much as I would not offer an alcoholic who is visiting me a drink of wine then I need to be aware of my blog readers. Actually, I’m not sure that I should tailor what I write to suit everyone, because that would be ridiculous, rather that my purpose in writing/blogging be quite clear. Oh dear, I’m still not being very clear eh? Can I try an example?

A few years ago a Christian homeschooling friend had been desiring to be a more submissive wife and she was also praying about wanting a meek & quiet spirit. Some time later, she felt that God told her to wear a head covering. Now this friend had such a vivacious and loud personality. She was often perceived to be domineering and the one to ‘wear the pants in the family’. At this time, head-covering, Quiverfull, grinding wheat, no makeup, etc was becoming a popular lifestyle of the Christian homeschooler. Some people admitted that they thought this friend was doing it because it was ‘the latest fad’. Regardless what struck me about my friend is that she never once talked about head covering as something that all women should do- or she didn’t even point to any Scriptural references. She didn’t preach at me or the other ladies. She didn’t set it all down in stone. She said she would cover for as long as God told her to. I think, from memory, she covered for a few years. I believe that God did indeed call her to cover her head during that time. I believe that He heard the desires of her heart and He was teaching her and transforming her, through her obedience. This woman is not your typical QF, patriarchal type of Christian homeschooler. Maybe her weakness was being un-submissive and domineering. Maybe God put boundaries around her (as He often uses physical object lessons to remind and teach us) by getting her to cover while He worked on her weakness.

Some in our local group saw this head-covering as a sign of the strength of her spirituality. They went a scripture-huntin’ and soon there were many heads covered. I really felt that some people mistook the relational work that God was doing to develop and grow her weakness, as a sign of strength and something that was to be aimed for. Yet this friend never did try to ‘teach’ the other women but we, human creatures, are quick to pick up on some things.

Some blogs/ websites are designed to teach women, according to Titus 2. They teach about all the ‘issues‘ and how a family is to live according to Scripture. As a side not, has anyone else noticed how these type of teachings seem to be directed at the female of the house- the woman? For such patriarchal teachings the women sure carry a lot of weight. 😕 Many new Christian homeschoolers stumble onto these sites, hear these things and perceiving strength, they set about trying to emulate the lifestyle (with or without the husband’s say-so, some of the time). I’m simply saying that we need to recognise that these issues are not always a sign of strength, but in fact sometimes, a weakness. The key is not to look to other people for lifestyle choices or issues but, together with our husband and The Word (not the word that the preacher preached on the online sermon but The Word) seek the heart of God.

Back to my analogy of the alcoholic: the alcoholic places measures of accountability (boundaries) in place because of his weakness. So is it reasonable to say that some people use boundaries (dress rules, social rules, speech rules, dietary rules, etc) in place because of their weakness…because of their inability to live in freedom without sinning? So we should see these things for what they are and not necessarily embrace them as ‘more spiritual’ or more desirous when they are really matters of freedom.

Dear BB, I hope that makes it a little clearer…if not, I apologise for my poor attempt at conveying my thought via the written word. You have examined my written word in depth previously and know how much room for improvement there is. 😮

Do you think that hard about what other people blog about? I tend to read something, and if it doesn’t line up with what I agree with/believe is reasonable, etc, I just think ‘nut case’ and move on. If they are someone whose on line personality I like, and they post something that is too weird, too out there, or just plain wrong, I may stay silent on that issue and wait for them to post something I can comment on.

Are you sure you’re not tormenting your dear precious self for nothing? Of course there are going to be people who take things the wrong way, and get huffy, but, isn’t that just like life? Certainly I manage to put my foot in my mouth with almost every social encounter: to imagine my online experience would be any different would be very optimistic of me! 😛

Or maybe I’m missing something in your post? Have I not got it? (I’ve had an incredibly doughy weekend, my mother had to excuse me to the man who {is it o.k if I digress for a minute and tell you this story?} who I visit on the farm. He kept telling me something I just couldn’t understand, and just like a man, he kept saying the same thing the same way even though I didn’t get it. I told him in the end, I can hear you, I just don’t comprehend, so you will have to find a different way of saying it. You will never guess what he did then – he said exactly the same thing, for a about the fifth time….but s l o w e r. I had to laugh, but I sure did feel silly.

So if I am missing something, feel free to try and explain it again (and again, and again…) only do try to phrase it differently each time, lol!

xx

Thanks for your comments and feedback ladies. I started this post quite a few weeks ago and left it in my draft folder. I came back to it a few days ago, fiddled with it some more and still left it. I know what I wanted to say but feared that I would offend or be misunderstood so i tweaked it yet again and then just decided to pray and hit publish.

Marisa, I love blogs and have been around the blogosphere since it started but wow, not sure I’d like to be a new homeschooler right now! I tend to get overwhelmed by too much information (talking & writing are the ways I process information and I can only do so much of both!) Most of the blogs I follow and comment on are *relational*, where, as you wrote, “people are living their human existence” and sharing it via their blog. But…wow Marisa, you really did delete Mamas On Fire? All I get now is SuburbanScreen. 🙁

Bek~ I would not have thought that you were a new Christian! How long have you been a believer? Often, the new believer has a great impact for the are often full of zeal and passion.

Ah Lusi~ I’m sorry to hear that you have had such a yucky experience. Sadly, I’ve had them too. 🙁 However, they have helped my writing and they also helped my thinking. As an example, when we first started homeschooling I was so chuffed with our new lifestyle. I honestly believed that everyone should homeschool and that it was God’s design. Now, I still believe that inherently it is God’s design in the sense that it is family, but I have changed my mind about drawing such a deep line in the sand. It is partly through the blogging experience that I have come to see that there are a gazillion ways to homeschool. I’ve come to see that there are are a gazillion was of doing one’s best while sending your children to private or Christian schools. However, I totally get what you are saying…. because blogging 9as a believer) takes time and energy and whilst in particular seasons of our life, we just can’t do it. There is a season to blog, a season to blog about lessons and the way we do it, and there is even a season to let it go and go on with something else. God, being the author of seasons, knows where we are and what is about to happen next so He an direct our path. It’s waiting and listening that can be the hard part for impatient people, like myself. 🙂

Thanks Ruby, for your comment. Your blog reminds me of my childhood…takes me back to my younger years in Broken Hill. 🙂

Hi Amanda 🙂

Yes, well I too, can post about vitamins and food and exercise but you already know that. 😉