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Lessons in Homeschooling, Part 2
If you had asked me five years ago if I would homeschool my children, I would have called you crazy for even
entertaining the idea. I laughed at friends who even suggested the notion. My pat answer was “No, if I homeschooled we would do culinary arts at McDonalds and economics at the Dollar Tree”.
I was a confirmed non-homeschool mom…much like the confirmed bachelor my husband was until he met me…God moves us!
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
A year ago May, after months and months of prayer and groveling and praying and seeking and praying and fist-shaking and more prayer; my family became a homeschool family. We haven’t looked back…well, we’ve looked back, but we have not regretted our decision. Well, perhaps some days or hours were fettered with regret; those days were laced in flesh and not God-seeking. But as a whole, the experience has been deeply enriching and amazingly blessed by the Lord’s Mighty Hand!
In the first installment of my adventures in homeschooling I listed the lessons I have learned:
- I invite the Lord to place His Mighty hand on every moment of my day.
- I want them (my children) to know that nothing is worth doing if it is not done in the Lord’s will.
- He stills me and guides me on a path of light and love.
- Not every worksheet will be completed and some days will be a wash…but the Lord’s mercies are always new each morning and moment to moment!
- I am learning who I am as a mom, a woman, and a beloved of the Lord.
And, now as I survey the past 9 months, I am unearthing more lessons. I am seeing a change in my family, my children, myself and my relationship with God.
As for my family; we are fully immersed in our love for one another. We approach communication from a different perspective. We have become softer; not softer in our discipline or training, but in our hearts. We are tender with each other in ways we never were before. We speak a language of prayer over decisions and discussions.
I see in my children broadened perspective. They are starting to see the world through different eyes. They have been given the opportunity to explore and feel and live in a teaching environment. When asked what our typical day is like, “how long do we do school for,” my answer has become “Always.” We are always learning and teaching. Each activity, experience, moment lends to their education. They are becoming great communicators, humble servants and champions for Christ.
I am being refined and growing in ways I never imagined. I am learning to depend fully, not on myself, but on God. I am learning that He is sovereign and that He reigns supreme in all circumstances. He is with me always, never forsaking me. He gently rebukes me and corrects me. He expects the same gentleness from me when I am worn and tired and my children are being anything but obedient…because, YES! There are days when they act just like real kids! Kids who are in desperate need of rebuking and correction.
So, together with the Lord, I offer the best encouragement and correction I am able. I am learning that in order to be a good teacher, I must first be an obedient mom. Obedient to the Lord. I must listen attentively to the Lord and His plan for my life. I must rely on Him to see me through each day. I must trust that it is He who has called me into this precious season, it is He who will equip me.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 (NIV)
Will I continue to homeschool my children? I say with confidence YES! I am blessed to be on this journey. I am blessed to wake to each new day of adventure and learning. The days are sometimes tiring and long and wrought with difficulty, but in the Lord’s will we will see through each moment pushing to the next great adventure. He will see us through. He always does. He lights upon our hearts with deep love and affection. And for every one day of exhaustion and discontent there are plenty…too numerous to count that are wrapped in happy and getting along and joy…pure God-joy!
“But as for me, I watch and hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
I praise the God I serve for His unconditional love and protection. I thank Him for always guiding me on straight and narrow paths!
Copyright © 2008-2015 Samantha Ewing
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