Motivation for Moms

The subject of motivation has popped up in my life on several levels in the last week. It first appeared in a writing class where we explored the role motivation plays in character development. Then it popped up in my own “work in progress”, as we writers call our manuscripts. Then I observed first hand a young man who bristles with potential but lacks motivation.

Finally, I remembered a challenge an author gave me a couple of months ago. She challenged me to find a quote, perhaps a sports quote, and paste it on my wall near my computer that I would read daily to motivate me to start clacking the keys on my computer and get to work on my novel. Then find a verse from the Bible that also applied to my writing.

Today, I’d like to challenge the homeschool moms to take the same challenge. Some days the difficulty and effort of homeschooling can overwhelm. I remember those days when the kids didn’t get it (and acted like they didn’t even want to get it), when the ungraded papers spilled off my desk, and when the floor went unmopped (again) while we raced to basketball practice.

If you’ve never asked why am I doing this, you probably haven’t been homeschooling for long. (Either that or you’re Super Woman and the rest of us aren’t sure we want to meet you.) Motivation answers that question “why”. A motivational Bible verse and inspirational quote just might help you remember why you’re doing this on those difficult days.

I’ll give you some examples, but I really hope you’ll find the one that speaks especially to your heart. When you do, place it on the wall or the fridge where you’ll see it often.

Sports quotes as applied to homeschooling:

• The day you take complete responsibility for yourself, the day you stop making any excuses, that’s the day you start to the top.

• Adversity cause some men to break; others to break records.

• Sweat plus sacrifice equals success.

• It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. 


• The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.

• The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

• The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.

• Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.

• Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.

• Champions never complain, they are too busy getting better.

Bible verses applied to homeschooling:

• "Train a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

• "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deut. 6:7

• “For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Prov. 2:6

• “My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of yur mother. Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around yur neck. When you roam, they will lead youp; when you sleep, they will keep yu; and when you awake, they will speak with you.” Prov. 6:20-22

Once you select you inspirational quote and Bible verse, pray the quote before you start the day. For example, you could take a sports quote and pray, "Lord, help me to see that the pain and difficulty of this day is temporary, but to quit could have consequences with my children that last forever."

Please share what motivates you to keep on.