An Unlikely Homeschool Mom
I don't recall saying I would never homeschool. I’ve learned how dangerous that statement is—never say never to God. However, I certainly never saw myself as a homeschool mom. Homeschool moms are book-smart, right? I am not. Homeschool moms love science and messy crafts, right? I do not. Homeschool moms only dream of being a mother; they don't have other ambitions, right? I do. Homeschool moms are willing to give all their time to educate their children, right? Truthfully, I was not.
We talk a lot about how comparison is the thief of joy. And it is. But have you considered exactly how comparison steals our joy? Often, it’s by keeping us from pursuing our callings. In this case, I thought that because I wouldn't homeschool the way she (the perfect homeschool mom of my imagination) did, I wouldn't be a good homeschool mom.
The Drop and Roll Order
Before my oldest started Kindergarten, the Lord asked me if I would drop everything to homeschool my children. At the time, I was in the middle of writing my first book, had drafted outlines for launching a podcast, and was serving on multiple ministry teams at my church.
It’s not the first time God has given me "drop and roll" orders. I know the drill well. But the more I currently have in my hands, the harder it is to resist His pruning. In that moment, my mind flashed with ministry tasks, passion projects, and dreams. I knew that saying yes to homeschool would mean saying no to many good things. Assignments that carried great value would have to be set down to prioritize an investment of even greater value: my children.
The Lord asked me to lay down fruitful, short-term investments to tend to fields that likely won’t produce a harvest for a long time. I had to choose legacy over instant gratification.
Qualified by the Caller
My husband wasn’t sure that we could provide the rigorous academic experience he desires for our children. Are we capable of providing a quality education that will prepare them for whatever God has planned for their lives? No, we concluded, we are not. But God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. If He was calling us to homeschool, He would provide us with the strength, resources, and support to do so.
When we gave Him our yes, an unexpected thing happened. God opened the door for our oldest two to attend a small Christian school that only goes through first grade. I was thrilled to find a school with shorter hours that used a Bible-based curriculum. For two years, my children flourished in a more traditional setting, giving me margin to do the things God had placed on my heart: I published the book, started the podcast, and led the ministry teams. We took a second foster placement and got more involved in the foster care and adoption world. And I, too, flourished.
But God doesn’t prune the fruitless branches; He prunes the fruitful ones so that they may bear more fruit (John 15:5). As each day of my son’s first-grade year passed, I knew I was getting closer to the pruning shears. Soon my two-year extension would be up, and homeschool mom would become my unlikely title.
We said yes again, and God supplied. He led us to an incredible co-op full of wonderful parents who have been more than willing to share their wisdom and help us navigate this new season. God also provided a job for my husband where he is able to have one day off a week to teach a day of homeschool. And the Lord has been faithfully supplying the daily strength and joy to sustain us through the ups and downs.
Faithfulness Over Success
I found a lot of encouragement from the book Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie. One quote in particular hit me in the gut when I read it. Sarah says, “He’s called me to be faithful, yet I am determined to be successful.”
This simple shift in goal from success to faithfulness changes everything. Don’t get me wrong, the pruning is still painful at times, but I can already see the areas of new growth. As we continue to surrender to Him, I know we will become more fruitful than ever.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” – John 15:1-2 (NKJV)
My journey from being the unlikely homeschool mom—the one who wanted to do everything else—to the one who now daily embraces it, is a testimony to His faithfulness. The fear that we weren't capable was true, but irrelevant. He didn't ask for our credentials; He only asked for our surrender. So, for every mom who feels ill-equipped, overwhelmed by comparison, or who has been asked to lay down fruitful assignments for an unlikely calling, remember that your only job is to say yes. The strength, the resources, the joy, and the fruit are His to supply. We can rest knowing that as long as we remain in the Vine, the Master Gardener will ensure we are equipped for the season He has appointed.
