In these very different times than we’ve experienced in our lifetimes, I wanted to thank you all! I so appreciate how I see you are encouraging and remaining humble to families who have not had the luxury of choosing to homeschool, but now find themselves trying to complete a year of school with children under such difficult circumstances. There is disappointment and hurt over the loss of many celebrations and “lasts” for seniors, and teachers are grieving the loss of goodbyes to students. Grieving those things is important and deserves moments of acknowledgement as well.
Please offer words of hope and kindness to others - and give yourself grace too, because our world as homeschoolers has changed as well. Restricted interaction and activities, potential sickness around, and the stress many families feel juggling lack of resources is frightening.
Let’s focus on how we can trust the unknown and uncertainty to part of a big picture in the plans of a sovereign Father. We can admit our heavy-heartedness and still choose to focus on Him instead of our circumstances. It’s a daily (or minute-by-minute sometimes) battle. As our kids watch us lead them in this crisis, I am praying for your families to keep leaning on Jesus as your Hope and source of Strength. These words are a great reminder of where our focus and hearts should be geared.
"Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is. If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” – C.S. Lewis
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
That is what I am asking Him to give us: hope that fills us with joy and peace so that we have even more hope. I'm so grateful you're part of my life and our school. If there are specific ways I can pray for your family, please share them!
Jennifer Vines