Our family motto is taken stolen borrowed from Charlotte Mason. She used it for children in her school, but we think of school and education more in terms of “life-training” so it’s our family motto, as opposed to our homeschooling motto. The short version is:

I am, I can, I ought, I will.

The long version is:

I am . . . a child of God, a gift to my parents and my country. I’m a person of great value because God made me.

I can . . . do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God has made me able to do everything required of me.

I ought . . . to do my duty to obey God, to submit to my parents and everyone in authority over me, to be of service to others, and to keep myself healthy with proper food and rest so my body is ready to serve.

I will . . . resolve to keep a watch over my thoughts and choose what’s right even if it’s not what I want.

Miss Mason’s educational philosophy is quite different from the modern educational mantra: “I read, I write, I calculate, I test.”

She said, “As the wise parent sees that his children are invigorated by proper exercise, so we may venture to think that Providence strengthens the children of men by giving to each opportunities for effort, chiefly, perhaps, for this effort of decision. For the will grows strong by its efforts, and the will is the man” (Vol. 4, Book 2, p. 158). I know that my will needs some training too. Good stuff!

There is a fantastic series of articles on Charlotte Mason’s motto here.

I really like the Mom’s motto here. This is my take on it.

I AM

I am a child of God.  I am loved.   I am the most qualified person there is to home educate, train, and manage therapy for my children for His glory and eternal kingdom.  I am their mother.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

I CAN

I can do His will.  I can be a professional mother (home educate, train, and manage therapy) for my children by His grace and for His glory.

Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I OUGHT

I ought to trust the Lord for the provision of our needs.  I ought to home educate, train, and manage therapy for my children in obedience to the Lord.

Acts 5:29, “…We ought to obey God rather than men.”

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

I WILL

I will seek the will of the Lord in my professional motherhood endeavors.  I will home educate, train, and manage therapy for my children for God’s eternal kingdom, by His grace.

Luke 22:42,”…nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”

James 4:15, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

When I hit the rough spots, I will make a conscious effort to decide to prevail if for no other reason that the Lord might be glorified for it. I pray that I would remember this life is all

by God’s grace and for His glory.

Truly, what other reason should I have for doing what I do? God says I don’t have to be an expert, just a willing vessel.

I plan to make some sort of framed art of the shortened motto (maybe embroidery??) in the near future. Because I do better with reminders. And I like things to be pretty.

Do you have a family motto? Share it in the comments. Or perhaps a mom motto?