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Homeschool Hope

Last Thursday night I had an opportunity to speak to our co-op moms at our Mom’s Tea. I spoke to them about Hope. Not the kind of hope that says, “I hope you have a nice day.” or “I hope to get a shower today.” That kind of hope is really just wishing. I’m talking about the kind of Hope that can only come through Christ.

I Peter 3:5-6 says, “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;  just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”

I think this verse is more about trusting God than it is about being submissive and calling our husbands lord. Even though Abraham was a man of God he was a terrible husband at times. He was willing to put his wife in harm’s way to protect himself. He did this not once, but twice. And yet, Sarah was able to submit to him, not because Abraham was so wonderful but because she hoped in God. And God supernaturally rescued her both times.

But sometimes my hope gets all messed up and I start putting my hope in people and not God. I put my hope in my husband and my children. And you know what, it never turns out good. I put unfair and unrealistic expectations on them. I’m disappointed time and time again. They feel like failures time and time again.

When I put my hope in my children I start parenting and homeschooling in a way that is fake and is no longer about the child. It becomes about me and how I feel when my child scores really high on the SAT…or really low. Or how I feel when my child is reading at age 4….or not reading at age 11
You see, I’ve had those extremes.

I did indeed have a child that struggled with reading and couldn’t read the very basic readers until 5th grade. I felt the sting of overhearing other home school moms gossip about it and about how I was doing everything wrong. (which is partly why I don’t talk much about home schooling on this blog)  But, God is faithful and He led me to do the things that others criticized me for and 5 short years later, my son passed his college entrance exam with flying colors. He went from struggling with Dr. Seuss to college ready in FIVE years.

When I put my hope in Christ and I’m doing what He wants me to do, I don’t need these things to validate me or my home school. And because I don’t use the good things to validate me, the not so good things don’t invalidate me or my home school.

I’m not saying it’s not hard, it is. I’ve struggled this summer with my older children’s career choices. Christian is going to jewelry school and Josiah wants to be a film actor. These are fields that I never would have chosen for them and yet, they are aggressively pursuing their dreams. And I’m proud of them to have the courage to do so.

I have to be careful that I don’t allow myself or our home school to be validated by what career or college choices my children make. I hear the remarks that are made by family and friends and often strangers(like the community college advisor), remarks that question whether these last 14 years have been worth it since they aren’t going to a major university.

I’m here to tell you that it is worth it, homeschooling is worth it, parenting is worth it, doing what God wants you to do is worth it – even if others don’t see it.

You, Mama, need to know that it’s always worth putting your Hope in Christ, doing what He leads you to do, and not letting others put value, whether great or small, on that for you.

Thanks for sharing with your friends!

Nora aka Mrs. DaybyDay

Tuesday 24th of September 2013

This post is such a great encouragement to others on their road to being Godly wives, parents and homeschool teachers. I have had ups and downs in my 25+ years in homeschooling. I too have not posted on homeschooling as I just do not feel right doing it and do not want to feel rejection from others in how we did or do ours. Again, great job!

Angi Schneider

Wednesday 25th of September 2013

Thanks, Nora. Homeschooling is such a personal thing, it's hard to have other judge what you do or don't do. Twenty-five years - that's amazing!

Rachel E.

Thursday 5th of September 2013

Thank you Angie. You are right on.

Angi Schneider

Tuesday 10th of September 2013

Thanks, Rachel. I've missed, you by the way.