Chapter 4:
Encouragement to Encouragement
The birds were already busy. Anna could hear them "chatting" away at the bird feeder. Sunlight was cautiously squeezing through the blinds, accompanied by a chilly breeze. The day seemed to promise it would turn bright and warm when the sun overwhelmed that chilly air. Since the chilly air was still winning, Anna quietly grabbed a sweater out of the closet and headed down the stairs for her quiet time with the Lord. As she read Psalm 31, Anna thanked the Lord for such encouraging words. She wrote down the following verses in her notebook:
Psalm 31:3,24
For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name's sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord."Hmmm...", she paused for a moment. "These are so good. I need to carry them with me today and commit them to memory." Rummaging through the bag where she kept books and notebooks and pens and such, Anna pulled out an index card, wrote down the two verses, read them out loud, and tucked the index card into her pocket.
The house was still quiet when she logged onto the computer to check e-mails and visit the homeschool message board. There was an e-mail from Polly which included a scrumptous cake recipe. Polly had modified the original recipe so that the cake was lower in fat, but even more delicious. Anna chuckled. Should she tell Polly about the dessert of Oreo cookies she had "prepared" last night? Nah.
There were quite a few new messages on the homeschool message board for Anna to read. One in particular caught Anna's eye. It was a cry for help!
Frazzled and Discouraged!
Posted by Sara on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 at 1:38 am
I've reached my breaking point! Each day seems to get harder and harder. I don't even want to get up tomorrow morning. My days are chaotic. Forget quiet time with the Lord, forget enjoying each day, forget laundry, forget a nice dinner on the table, forget the image of a peaceful, but exciting homeschool. It's one struggle after another. How did I ever get the impression that I could do this? I feel frazzled and discouraged and I'm thinking of quitting this homeschool grind!! Can anyone help me out of this hole?
Wearily yours,
SaraAnna's heart broke for this homeschooling mother. She had felt some of the same emotions more than once during her family's homeschooling journey. She noticed Polly had already replied to the message. She clicked on Polly's reply.
Don't Stress Out and Fizzle Out!
Posted by Polly on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 at 5:38 am, in response to Weak and Frazzled! posted by Sara on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 at 1:38 am
Dear Sara,
When your homeschool doesn't seem to be as innovative and exciting as the ones written up in articles, your children aren't jumping up and down each morning begging, "Please Mom, we want to learn more!", the laundry baskets are overflowing, and healthy, home-cooked meals are just a fading memory--there is a temptation to feel you're just not cut out for this lifestyle! Fear of failure is common to many new homeschooling families--after all, these are your children's lives at stake--you want to prepare them for the future in the best way possible. How can you be sure you won't fail?
Succeeding as a homeschool parent doesn't require academic genius or a certain personality--it does require a whole heart and 100% commitment, as well as the ability to acknowledge our weaknesses and look to the Lord to provide all our needs. We need to have the assurance that homeschooling is God's will for our family, then we will have the confidence that whatever the circumstances, He will enable us to homeschool successfully.
Sometimes in order to view everything objectively and try to see things from God's perspective, we have to step back and take a break so we can recharge. I'm going to include a link to an article from Articles to Encourage called, "Feeling Frazzled? Take Time to Recharge?" which I think you will be blessed by! We need these breaks for physical, spiritual and emotional refreshment so we don't stress out and fizzle out!
With Much Love,
PollySuggested URL: "Feeling Frazzled? Take Time to Recharge!" by Tamara Eaton
"Amen, Polly!" Lifting this fellow homeschool mother up in prayer, Anna started to type in her reply. She paused for a moment when the rest of the family began to stir upstairs. An alarm clock was going off in Sandy's room. Undoubtedly, Sandy would be sleeping right through the loud beeping while Rod grumbled that she never heard her alarm so why did she even bother to set it. Murray would have already climbed into bed next to his father and would be talking away about a dream he had last night or some plans he had for the day. Anna knew she had a few minutes before anyone came downstairs. She started to type faster. With one quick glance back over what she had written, Anna hit the "Submit" button.
Lead Me and Guide Me
Posted by Anna on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 at 6:38 am, in response to Weak and Frazzled! posted by Sara on Wednesday, 8 March 2000 at 1:38 am
Hi Sara,
I'm typing quickly this morning before my quiet morning turns into a chaotic homeschool day! I was so struck by your message and I've been praying for you and will be praying for you. This morning in my Bible reading, the Lord impressed the following verses upon my heart:
Psalm 31:3,24
For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name's sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.
Sometimes we allow the worries of this world and craziness of our days to drive out the promises the Lord has given us in His Word. He will guide us and lead us, even when we are discouraged with homeschooling. Just as He has called you to homeschool your children, He can clearly lead you and guide you in teaching your children. Remember that you are not alone in this! Just call on Him and put your hope in Him!
A few years ago when I was discouraged about our homeschooling, the Lord led me to find out what discouragement was and if discouragement was His plan for me. The Lord tells us to "be of good courage" not to be discouraged! Take some time today to do a search in your Bible for when there was the temptation to be discouraged and how the Lord or others spoke the reminder "to be strong and of a good courage". And follow Polly's advice!! Praying for you!
Love in Christ,
Anna
"Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:9)
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)Suggested URL: "101 Ways to Take Good Care of Yourself"
The sound of feet pounding down the stairs transformed the morning. Dogs began barking, requesting their right to go out. Anna jumped up out of the computer chair and headed for the kitchen to get breakfast started. She began pouring a cup of coffee for herself. Mmmmm... Southern Pecan coffee. Her favorite!
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"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children."
Isaiah 54:13