This family has just begun it’s second year as a homeschool family. My husband is a public school teacher and I’m a former one myself, so I often get asked how I like homeschooling. My typical response is usually “I really enjoy it, but it’s really hard,” putting an emphasis on the really hard part. This is the truth. I really do find joy in this experience, but I can’t deny that their are days when I wish I could send my kids off to school and go back to the classroom myself.

Homeschooling is no joke. I thought it would be a breeze with my background. And I love my kids so much. So I thought that being their teacher would make me (and them) the happiest person on the planet. But this hasn’t been the case. Homeschooling has challenged and even changed many of my teaching philosophies. Classroom management strategies that I learned for a room full of 20-30 students, don’t seem to always work with the four littles I have sitting at my dining table. And while my children do make me happy, this feeling usually only lasts as long as they are all cooperating with my schedule.

Yes, homeschooling is hard, but I really do enjoy it. Even though it often involves tears (mostly mine), and yelling (again, mostly mine), and lots of patients (uh, mostly from my kids because they need to be far more patient with me than I need to be with them) I still enjoy this incredible struggle to educate my four beautiful children.

Now, at this point you may be expecting me to tell you how rewarding it is to see the “light” come on when one of my kids finally “gets” something. You might expect me to share about all the lovely art projects we do together or even the about amazing time we have studying the Bible. But I’m not. Yes, those things are great (when and if they actually happen), but they are not the reason I find joy in homeschooling.

God is using this amazingly, hard homeschool journey to teach me to rely on Him. I’m learning to lean into Him and turn to Him in prayer when I want to give up on what I know is best for our family right now. James 1:2 tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trails.” Let me tell you friends, this homeschool is a trail for me. But through it God is growing my faith and producing patience in me — patience with my children, patience with myself and patience with Him.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3

This growing of faith and producing of patience is where I find my ultimate joy. It comes from walking with the Holy Spirit and only the Holy Spirit. Walking with Him is why I can say  “I really enjoy homeschooling, but it’s really hard” and mean it 100%. It is walking with and being with my Savior that satisfies my soul, brings me cheer, and warms me with calm delight no matter the struggles that homeschooling (or any other situation) may throw at me.

What about you? What various trail have you found yourself in lately? Despite the difficulty of the situation, are you able to count it all joy? Are you looking forward to the faith and patience that is being produced by God alone? Leave me a comment or send me an email. Let’s walk in the Light together, encourage one another, and lift each other up in prayer.

Only by grace,

Kelli