Several years ago when our children and grandchildren were at our house for a wild and wonderful few days, I noticed our daughter’s old Fisher Price® doll Jenny facedown on the coffee table. I decided to take her picture just the way I found her.
I’m guessing that on some days you might feel like Jenny. I know that I felt that way sometimes before Ray and I decided to make homeschooling our lifestyle, before we made it who we were instead of a big burden we strapped on! I still had some rough days after that, but I almost wish that God would let me roll back the years and homeschool all over again. If He asked me if I wanted that, I’d answer a resounding “Yes!”
I, like you, felt a great deal of responsibility back in those days and sometimes it seemed as if I was getting up every morning doing the same things I did the day before. What a blessing that is because those same things that you are doing day after day include:
• loving your husband
• bathing your baby
• listening to your teenager
• reading to your ten-year-old
• checking on your mother
• feeding your family
• teaching your six-year-old how to tie his shoes
• braiding your daughter’s hair
• sending your brother a birthday card
• reading your 7th grader’s essay
• watching your children play
• emailing your aunt
• picking up after your family
• texting your sister
• praying for your dad
• and many other things
Psalm 127 teaches us that:
• Family is a long obedience in the same direction.
• Our efforts in our families are secondary to God’s work in them.
The memories you create while living the homeschool lifestyle with your children will last well into the future. I still remember John programming on our old Commodore 64 and building LEGO® castles, Bethany’s amazing meals and taking art lessons with her, and those early days of the Homeschool Dramatic Society with Mary Evelyn. From the first homeschool play in 1999, it’s still going strong after all these years.
I pray that you never regret the moment you said yes to living in the present with your children and grandchildren—whether they are six months old or 36. Enjoy and cherish your long obedience in the same direction, while resting in the Lord Who builds the house and gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
