socially accepted.
8:48:00 PM
Last June during one of the craziest seasons of my life, God called me to homeschool.
It wasn't what I would have necessarily chosen for myself, nor was it what I thought I would ever do. Before I had babies, 3 to be exact, I was a public school teacher. I taught first grade, second and even did an internship with Kindergarten. First grade was my favorite and by the time I was getting ready to have my first born, I had fallen in love with the many different types of children that I got to be around each day. I was around children of all different colors, ethnicity's and social class. Public school was the mixture that I had always wanted my own children to be a part of.
That is partly why this "calling" was so hard for me. As a child that LOVED school, I had a hard time with the idea of my own child having calendar time with her two younger sisters and possibly a few stuffed animals. And then, what about all of the fun festivities that take place each year, like Grandparents day and Christmas plays of baby Jesus and the angels (oh wait, that's not public school). Who was she going to do the Thanksgiving classroom "feast" with... her stuffed Teddy and Porcupine?? And then what about the audience. Who would come watch paper bags become puppets and 3 little girls show off all the many talents they had learned throughout the school year? Then there was yearbook, field day, art class, team sports, etc. etc.
The list of fears kept going.
And the number one fear...
How was she going to be socially accepted with no one to talk to?
Little did I know though, was that God would call me to this season to actually teach ME something. What I have learned is that my child loves having me as her teacher. My child loves the fact that her best friends are her sisters. She loves that she can wear her pajamas to class and bring her bestie Barbie to sit with her during carpet time. She even loves it when her baby sister losses it and becomes a total cry baby... because she gets to be one of the many "mommies" in this house that makes things all better. I have also learned that those she chooses to "socialize" with are those that share the same values, the same beliefs for life and the same passions for laughter as she does. I have learned that even though her friends go to different schools and have other friends that it doesn't change how they feel about my girls. They connect. They socially "get" each other because they all have one common denominator.
Love.
And God is Love.
Over this last year, we have had friends come and watch puppet shows made out of Popsicle sticks. We have had friends come and wrap up shoe boxes for Operation Christmas child and we even had friends come and celebrate Jesus' birthday with some yummy red velvet cake.
And tonight, we had a house full of little kids ready to hand out their hand-made Valentines to the ones that they love. My heart was full.
Tonight, I am thankful for friends who take being a friend much further than socialization. They take it deep and straight to the heart. They let you know that your life matters. Those are the types of friends that I witnessed tonight. Yes, the mothers of who brought their younguns' to be with us, but also the little friends that ran around here, carefree and fully devoted to having fun with each other.
And so, I am grateful, (even though more days than not, are pretty rough)
that God called me to Homeschool this year.
What is God calling you to do?
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Here are just a few reasons why I am thankful that God brought me away from the fear of being socially accepted and into the calling that He had for me and my girls.
My oldest gave her life to the Lord on day 3 of homeschool.
Just one day after I had questioned whether God had called me to do this.
Doing the arts and crafts with my girls and seeing the light bulb go off when they finally "get it."
Sisters.
Cant't break this bond.
Impromptu trips to the Zoo with best friends... all because it's educational.
Operation Christmas Child.
Birthday tea parties for the King.
When little sissy can't gain control over her emotions, we can call it a day and head to the park.
And then tonight...
I don't know what next year will bring,
but I do know that moments like this make our house truly WHOLE.
5 comments
You are such an inspiration. Its so hard as a Christian to follow God's calling sometimes. Especially when that calling has questions, fears, and uncertainty that trail behind it. Many people miss their calling, miss their purpose because they give into that fear. I applaud you for pushing past and just trusting in HIM!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing post! Thanks for sharing your heart and your heart on homeschooling. I feel the same way and think it's so cool that God called me to homeschool the same month He called you to. Doesn't surprise me ;) xoxo, cat
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you are happy with how things have worked out for you. xx
ReplyDeleteI just love reading about your precious family!!! You inspire me.
ReplyDeleteFor me one of the hardest things is for me to step back and not be so wrapped up in the "me" part of parenting. Sometimes what is the hardest for me to do is just what my kiddos need. How wonderful that you where able to step back and just go for it!
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