by Rebecca Kocsis

It’s right there on your calendar, circled in red. The last day of school. It’s coming quickly, and yet seems so far away at the same time. And you are tired. Rather than pushing forward, full steam ahead, you’d much rather pack it in and call it a year. Why do we sometimes run out of steam before we run out of school days? 

Distractions 

Have you been distracted? It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture and get caught up in side issues that aren’t essential to the school year — or eternity. 

Other commitments have crept into your schedule. You started out with a workable plan and then came that phone call from church, or Awana, or your co-op. “Can you help?” “Oh, why not? I’m sure I can work it in.” It started out being, what you thought was, a small commitment. Then it mushroomed. It ended up taking more of your time and energy than you expected. Because of that, you’ve rushed through devotions more than once, and your kid’s schoolwork has languished. And you have guilt. 

Discouragement

Homeschooling is done day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. In the midst of a difficult day, it can be hard to see that you are truly making progress. School years are made up of incremental baby steps, rather than by leaps and bounds. That’s the nature of education.

Maybe you aren’t making the progress that you had expected, because the school year is going nothing like you had planned. We prayerfully make our plans, but we can’t possibly know what the school year holds. Perhaps you discovered your child has learning difficulties, you lost a parent, or you got sick. Or could it be you planned too much in the first place? Regardless, you didn’t make the progress you had thought and now you are discouraged. 

Remember Your Reason

Both of these, distractions and discouragement, can cause us to lose sight of our goals. That’s when it’s time to revisit why we are here. Why do we homeschool? It’s not about the academics or the activities. It’s about discipleship. We want to give our children a Christ-centered upbringing so they will be equipped to serve the Most High God. 

There’s only one place to get what we need to do that. It’s on your knees. 

That’s where we receive rest and instruction. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30 NLT

That’s where we trade our weakness for His resurrection power.

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 1:19-20 NLT

Nothing that happened, or didn’t happen, this year was a surprise to Him. You can consider it all a part of His course of study for your family. Even though you may not understand what He is doing, you can trust Him. He is sovereignly able to accomplish His purposes, even when you make a mistake or when it doesn’t make sense.