"We're going the opposite way..."

Yesterday, I told the girls we would go for a nature walk in the lovely white snow. Since we homeschool, I was unaware that the school system had a two hour delay. As we left our house for a crisp walk in the winter air, we noticed other children walking too. It seemed strange until I realized there must have been a two hour delay. So as we approached the brick school building with bundled munchkins flanking the entrance, we needed to make a turn to continue our walk. The crossing guard looked at us strangely, as if to say, "uh,the school's thattaway..." I said to the girls, "No, we're turning left. We're going the opposite way."

"The opposite way." The words stuck in my head. That's really how I can think about homeschooling and public schooling. You see, for the last 8 weeks or so, things in the economy have seriously struck at my husband's paycheck. I had, after much thought and prayer, offered to pursue finding a job myself, which would mean returning our girls to public school. Although at first, this seemed like a treacherous idea, I had quieted my heart about it. I knew God may call me/us to do things we are not comfortable with, and this was one possibility. But my husband believes that this isn't the right solution for us for now, so I will stay at my post, the home, and keep caring for and teaching our girls full-time. But I am learning a valuable lesson through all of this. Our family will continue to be preserved by God, whether I have to reenter the workforce or not. It is not I, the stay-at-home mom, or homeschooling, or any sort of persuasion that keeps us rooted. It is simply, yet profoundly, the kindness of God. He is the one who determines our steps, no matter how we plan. So while I pray to be able to keep my chicks in the pen, I am willing to do whatever needs done. I don't need to fear the future because God is on His throne, ruling my life as He always has. So for now, I remember to be thankful each day I'm home with the girls. But I realize how fragile it all is, how God may ask any of us to go through what we dread... And that He will bring us through it, to the praise of His name.