I still remember how shaky I felt as I climbed out of the car after my first solo trip as a licensed driver, don’t you? I had to hang on to the door just to stay on my feet!
That’s sort of how homeschooling feels every year. I know God is in it, but there are so many nagging questions and concerns that beg for my attention.
There has never been a time in the past 29 years of homeschooling that I have felt I finally had it all together. I don’t think there ever will be, either. But I am resolved to finish this work God has given me to do, no matter what the challenges, no matter the obstacles, no matter what anyone else (even my own dear children) may think of me. I will press on, not only with determination, but with the joy of the Lord as long as I keep my eyes on Him and not on the waves of my own doubts and fears.
Over the years I have learned that, if I want to thrive, I need to live Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
This is what I hope you will take away with you today. Don’t look at the negative possibilities; don’t put your faith there. Put your faith in the One who sees, our Father Who holds it all in His mighty, loving hands, and leave your doubt at His feet.
You can only do this if you replace your own thoughts that wind down to the pit with His thoughts that rise to heavenly places, where you are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
In this post I have put a few of these thoughts together for you to meditate on. As you read on, I hope your heart is lifted and you are filled with hope and excitement!
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41:3
It Couldn’t Be Done
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle it in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “couldn’t be done,” and you’ll do it.
Edgar Guest
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3
Tied Down
‘They tie you down,’ a woman said,
Whose cheeks should have been flaming red
With shame to speak of children so.
‘When babies come you cannot go
In search of pleasure with your friends,
And all your happy wandering ends.
The things you like you cannot do,
For babies make a slave of you.’
I looked at her and said: ”Tis true
That children make a slave of you,
And tie you down with many a knot,
But have you never thought to what
It is of happiness and pride
That little babies have you tied?
Do you not miss the greater joys
That come with little girls and boys?
‘They tie you down to laughter rare,
To hours of smiles and hours of care,
To nights of watching and to fears;
Sometimes they tie you down to tears
And then repay you with a smile,
And make your trouble all worth while.
They tie you fast to chubby feet,
And cheeks of pink and kisses sweet.
‘They fasten you with cords of love
To God divine, who reigns above.
They tie you, whereso’er you roam,
Unto the little place called home;
And over sea or railroad track
They tug at you to bring you back.
The happiest people in the town
Are those the babies have tied down.
‘Oh, go your selfish way and free,
But hampered I would rather be,
Yes rather than a kingly crown
I would be, what you term, tied down;
Tied down to dancing eyes and charms,
Held fast by chubby, dimpled arms,
The fettered slave of girl and boy,
And win from them earth’s finest joy.’
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Matthew 7:7
If you want something further to read to encourage yourself, read this:
Susanna homeschooled her 10 children. She had strict guidelines for her home that may seem harsh on the surface. However, in her son John Wesley’s writings of his early years at Oxford, the disciplines that he learned while at home under his mother’s teaching resulted not only in him being well prepared for life in higher education, but equipped him as a Christian swimming against the tide of mainstream university life.
I hope you enjoy this little diversion from my usual content. I am actually working on an extensive post filled to the brim with lists, schedules, a pdf, and even a video tour of what we are doing this next year.
I will also be giving a glimpse into a new product line we are working on currently that will be an affordable way to save you time and energy while homeschooling your children.
So stay tuned!
Thank you so much for this post. We don’t officially begin homeschooling until next year, but today I have been so bogged down with thoughts that it is a bad idea and I should be working out how to afford private school. Feeling it will be impossible to care for a house full of young children and homeschool a strong willed daughter at the same time. Thank you for the encouragement to rest in what God has asked of me and not the voices of discouragement around me. Blessings
I totally understand, Krystal! Every day I am so thankful for Jesus, for the encouragement and help of the Holy Spirit. If it weren’t for His help, I would have given up many years ago 🙂 Praying for you right now that you will experience peace and rest, and to silence those voices of discouragement.
Thank you!! I loved this:
“There has never been a time in the past 29 years of homeschooling that I have felt I finally had it all together. I don’t think there ever will be, either. But I am resolved to finish this work God has given me to do, no matter what the challenges, no matter the obstacles, no matter what anyone else (even my own dear children) may think of me. I will press on, not only with determination, but with the joy of the Lord as long as I keep my eyes on Him and not on the waves of my own doubts and fears.”
This is so true! When we first started out, I really thought it was so simple. I would look at a couple of curriculum choices, pick one, and that was it. No more thinking, no more angst, no more decisions. That would be it. HA!!!!!! There are constant decisions to be made – things that need tweaking, things to add, things to drop, problems to address, sticky issues to address, etc. It is constantly teaching me to rely on God, and it is a hard journey – but worth it!
Looking forward to your future posts that you mention!!
Yes, it really is like a bouncy, crazy tour around the universe, isn’t it? So thankful for God’s wisdom and strength to carry us through!
Thank you, Sherry!
You are very welcome, Carolina.
Great post, Sherry! I especially love Isaiah 41:3. I have been homeschooling now for 6 years and every year I have my doubts on if I’m doing this right! Looking forward to this post your working on!!
Thank you, Catrina! This next post is taking a bit because it is chock-full, and because it is all about planning, which is something that has been taking up the bulk of my time lately, along with the house and running everyone around 🙂 I’m really loving it, though! I hope to have it up later today.