Article By: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries
Exactly two days before the eagerly anticipated first day of school, my husband and I decided to homeschool our oldest daughter.
She’s struggled with dyslexia the past five years and we just didn’t have a peace about sending her back to traditional school.
Everything was fine and dandy until the weekend before school when her anxiety went off the charts (and mine quickly followed).
I was discussing my fears and frustrations with my best friend when she posed the simple question:
Have you ever considered homeschooling her?
Um….no. Not me…never. And with all the stuff on my plate right now….eek! No.
I am the girl who thinks homeschooling parents are the most beautiful kind of crazy people.
And I never expected to join that club.
Yet, I simply could not get her question out of my mind.
And when I began to discuss the possibility with my husband, we quickly realized it was the absolute best decision for our daughter in this season.
Really, God? Couldn’t you at least have given me a warning?
Confessions of an unexpected homeschool mom and hope for people who, like me, hate change!
Of course, my Heavenly Father knew this detour was coming.
But me…well…I was caught completely off-guard.
When I first spotted the detour sign, I totally freaked out. But then, I reminded myself Who put that sign in my path.
God.
And I found great comfort in the words of Romans 8:37-39, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I’m still not a fan of change.
And these first few weeks of juggling homeschooling, work, mothering, and “all the other things” have been packed with change.
Why don’t I like change? Because I think…
Change is a bully.
It takes a swing at me when I’m not looking, swiftly knocking me off my feet and hovering over me until I question my ability to stand again.
Maybe if I play possum a while, change will leave me alone and find someone else to pick on?
Unfortunately, change is inevitable–an unavoidable obstacle on the road of life.
And if we can’t learn how to cope with change, we’ll likely spend most our life playing possum.
Change is inevitable--an unavoidable obstacle on the road of life.But how do you fight back against a bully?
The stark contrast of life and death, night and day, summer and winter serves as a constant reminder that change is just part of life here on earth.
In the words of King Solomon, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2).”
Winter warms into spring, spring sprouts into summer, summer ebbs into fall, and fall brings winter back around.
In the same way, childhood blossoms into adolescence, marital bliss bears fruit for the family tree, and full nests empty as the next generation learns how to fly.
Change is woven into the fabric of creation.
Maybe God also wove a thread of hope into his design for those of us who struggle with change?
Maybe he provided some tool, resource, or truth to help us stand up to this oversized oaf?
Change is woven into the fabric of creation.
I just finished writing my Ephesians Bible study, and on the final day of writing, I unearthed a beautiful truth.
A truth that is helping me to cope with all the change happening in my life right now.
Maybe it will help you too.
Thirteen of Paul’s letters to the first-century Church are included in our New Testament.
Each and every one of those letters starts with a blessing and ends with a benediction.
If you take the time to read the blessing and benediction in all Paul’s letters, the only common thread you will find is grace.
Some have mercy, others have peace or love, but all begin and end with grace.
Grace is defined as God’s steadfast love toward man.
It flows from the Father, through the Son, to us.
God’s grace is undeserved, unrelinquishing, and untouchable.
It is the one thing that will NEVER change.
When the season’s of life change, God’s grace remains. When the winds of change blow, God’s grace remains. When we are on the ground, fearful of the future and weary from the past, God’s grace whispers, “Get up and fight.”
The only way to thrive in seasons of change is to carry God’s grace with us.
The only way to thrive in seasons of change is to carry God's grace with us.What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? -Romans 8:31
In the midst of all the “beautiful kind of crazy” these past few weeks, I’ve felt an undeniable peace and blessed assurance that God is in this decision to homeschool our daughter.
Even though I still feel a bit under-prepared for this season of change, God is faithfully filled the gaps in my abilities and covering my fears with His grace.
One of the most special parts of homeschooling so far has been the opportunity to take a more active role in my daughter’s spiritual education.
We’ve been starting our days with Bible study and journaling; I’ve been so blessed by the many conversations that have flowed out of this time.
God's grace is undeserved, unrelinquishing, and untouchable. It's one thing that will never change.
One resource that has been enormously helpful to me is Lynn Cowell’s new book for young girls titled “Brave Beauty.”
The hardback book is divided into 100 mini-chapters, the perfect length for a quick morning devotional with my daughter.
Lynn’s writing is easy to digest, personable, and engaging.
My daughter especially enjoys the quizzes peppered throughout the book, and I have been using the “Becoming Brave” questions at the end of each chapter as journaling prompts for her.
This book covers many important topics including salvation, identity, body image, friendship, self-confidence, and embracing our God-given purpose.
The best part is it takes just minutes per day to complete a chapter, and the book is a starting point for many important conversations between mother and daughter.
Although I think it’s best to go through this book together, it is definitely written in such a way that a young girl could easily navigate it herself.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the Brave Beauty book for review purposes.
Part of the reason I pulled my daughter out of the traditional school setting was I noticed patterns of self-doubt, insecurity, and anxiety.
She was struggling with friendships and overwhelmed by the high expectations of her educators.
Check out this awesome new #bravebeautybook for Christian Tweens from @lynncowell and @zondervan {Click to Tweet}
It’s so important for us, as parents, to teach our children who God says they are and help them establish a sense of beauty and worth that is not dependent on the acceptance they receive from others.
Helping them establish a routine of daily Bible study at a young age is a great way to prepare them for the uncertainty and confusion the teen years bring.
Lynn’s Brave Beauty book is helping me do just that!
