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Very well said...

I'm starting a new book this week called The Organized Home Schooler. I requested this book because I was curious about it after reading several reviews. People either loved it or hated it.

Over the past few months, I have felt God knock on my heart about my pride and how that keeps me from accepting criticism. My husband has shared with me that it is hard to criticize me--I take it so hard. As I've been reading the Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges, I have begun to see and feel how to accept criticism but not be devastated by it.

I think that we often attack other's ideas and books if we feel defensive about our lives and how we are living them. I believe this is part of our sinful nature. We all have pride. Pride can cause us to do a lot of things and respond to people in hurtful and attacking ways in an attempt to protect ourselves. But, that isn't what God desires for us. I know that He desires humility for us. Humility--in my mind, that means the realization that we just don't know as much as we think we do and that we have a lot to learn. Humility is a hard thing to define, but I would describe it as not thinking better of ourselves than we should...

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 NIV

Which leads me to the book I'm reading. I think that it's easy to read the first paragraph: "People marvel at how organized our home is. They even peek into our cupboards just hoping a mess is inside. They're usually disappointed."
It would be very easy to be put off by the first two sentences of the book. Goodness gracious! She sounds perfect and sounds like she thinks she is. That would be one way of reading it. But, I saw that God had prepared my heart to read this book. The next two sentences are:
"I believe that there is always room for improvement when it comes to being organized. I have not "arrived" by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm well on my way."
It still sounds a little iffy, doesn't it?

It isn't until you read a few pages in and begin to hear the humility in Ms. Carauna's heart.
"I will share with you what works for our family, but I caution you not to assume that there is one best way to be organized. Every family is different, with different personalities and needs."
Later...
"Instead I invite you on a journey to find out for yourself what works and what doesn't."
Still later...
"I confess that my own journey to a more orderly life has been filled with delays, detours, pitfalls, and distractions. I am still en route. It is a process. And I can't do it alone."

It turns out that the author of this book was a huge slob until well into college when she went through the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle cure for messiness. Do you remember the story of the boy who didn't pick anything up until it got so bad that he couldn't come out of his room anymore. Well, that basically happened to her. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was right! I always have suspected it would work =)

After reading the first few pages, I am looking forward to the rest.
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Alison said…
Wow I appreciate this post. My reactions to the quotes from the book were exactly like yours! Maybe I need to look for that Jerry Bridges book!!
February 10, 2010 at 12:17 AM
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