Mom to Mom: A Tribute…

by | Sep 30, 2017 | Articles, Encouragement

…to Homeschool Moms

by Melody Sheppard

Homeschool moms remind me of soldiers in a war zone: they never know where the next attack will come from.  Sometimes they can’t even see the enemy.  Their mission?  Shield and protect their precious charges while preparing them for whatever lies ahead.  They must be continually ready to act, ready to defend, ready to listen and ready to care.  Sacrifices are made every day.  The conditions are sometimes tense and sometimes chaotic, but they have become battle-hardened enough to know that a heartfelt prayer and a cool head will see them through.  So this Mom to Mom is a tribute to the bravest women I know.

This is for all the moms who get up each morning and see the same faces and hear the same endless chatter.

This is for the moms who spend countless unpaid hours assuring that the right curriculum, the right books and the right truths are presented in a way that will at least gain some attention from their pupils.

This is for the moms who have figured out that it is more important to look beyond grades and recognize the attitudes, gifts and abilities of their children.

This is for the moms who are told they are not qualified to teach the children they have nurtured since birth; yet tenaciously believe that a mother’s love, instincts, and desire to see their children succeed will far outweigh any deficiencies.

This is for the moms who worry that their child isn’t reading or doesn’t know his states or can’t eat at the table with manners, yet understand that each thing will come at the right time.

This is for the moms who see all too well the flaws in their own character, yet acknowledge their accountability before God to be doers of His Word and firmly but tenderly train and instruct the “disciples” He has put in their care.

This is for the moms who recognize that God is the ultimate source of wisdom, peace, and patience during days spent in a house with no adult conversation or understanding.  They have come to grips with the truth that only by abiding in Him can true joy be a reality, day after homeschool day.

We are shaping lives that will shape the future.  Praise God, we have already taken the first step.  We have decided to do what most would run from – be responsible for all areas of our children’s teaching. The next step is to simply take the next step.  Each one of us will have a different step, so don’t get discouraged when your step seems hard.  God always enables us to do what He has called us to do. 

And my God will supply all your needs, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus!

Philippians 4:19 

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Melody Sheppard is a busy homeschool mom and grandma who finds time to minister through CHEWV as Facebook Director.  She her husband Dennis retired from the CHEWV Board after serving for over 20 years, but she’s busier than ever teaching the last remaining child, cooking, traveling, and remodeling.  How can she find time for ministry?  Because she continues to have a heart for younger homeschool moms whom she prays will reap the rewards she now enjoys – when she’s not too busy to notice!