Check my back. Did someone secretly put a sign on there that says, “Rookie mom—Help Wanted!”? Pretty sure they did.

I must not look like I have my act together because wherever I go there seem to be parenting experts looking to help me 😉.

At a group gathering the news leaked that I homeschool my children (gasp!) and sure enough, there was a skeptic in the crowd. An elderly nun, no less (aren’t elderly nuns supposed to be sweet and kind? They always are on tv!!) She had me under the microscope.

“What courses are you taking to make sure that you are keeping up with everything your children should be learning?”

Oh boy. Here we go.

“You have some kind of school group or association you belong to, right? You know, your children will have to compete with everyone else once they are grown and in the real world!”

Really? This is happening?! (This is me shifting into “defensive homeschool mom” mode—the ugly part of the story).

“How dare she!” I thought. “Did I ask her to weigh in on my teaching capabilities?! Pretty sure I’m actually OVER-qualified to homeschool my kids. After all, I graduated college with honors, and it’s not like I’m teaching rocket science. It’s elementary school! This lady needs to back off already!”

But I am not a have-it-out-here-and-now kind of gal. I am more of a pretend-everything-is-peachy-even-though-I-don’t-feel-like-it person. So, I smiled and nodded. I bit my tongue. And seethed.

I mentally patted myself on the back. How wonderful of me to listen to this woman without defending myself! I was practically a saint. I puffed up with pride.

Then the Holy Spirit brought the situation to light, reminding me of a few timeless truths:

• Isaiah 5:21 warns, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight”
• Proverbs 26:12 says, “Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.”  Proverbs 26:12

More hope for a fool? Really?! Ouch. About that whole “over-qualified” thing…

But there’s one more, and it’s the kicker:

• “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11

Boy was I screwing this one up royally! Not only was I the textbook example of “wise in my own eyes,” but so much so that I lacked REAL wisdom—the kind that reveals itself with a spirit of patience, not offense.

Real wisdom reveals itself with a spirit of patience, not offense. Share on X

Well that’s ironic. Turns out that skeptical nun wasn’t so far off. Guess this “over-qualified” homeschool mom could learn a thing or two about true wisdom, patience and taking offense.

Imagine that! 😉

What about you? When have you been humbled by God’s word? I’d love to hear about it!

Tags: homeschooling, Jesus, motherhood, purposeful living, repentance, sin, wisdom