It is not uncommon for families to feel "buyer's remorse" after the first few weeks or months as new homeschoolers, and maybe with good reason. With every change or new beginning there will be struggles, some big, some small, and some monstrous. Maybe the in-laws are furious with your decision. Maybe you just can't seem to find time to finish all that you had planned in your day. Maybe cooperation has only seen a few moments or your house has seen better days. Sometimes, life just takes an unexpected turn.

We homeschooled all through the preschool years and continued with homeschooling for kindergarten shortly before our firstborn child turned five. We also had a preschooler and a toddler, and I was two months pregnant with our fourth. I truly loved homeschooling. For me it was just a short step from what I had already been doing all through the preschool years (which is why I so strongly encourage preschooling at home). Everything was going so smoothly. Then, seven months later, just after the birth of our fourth child, our routine was brought to an immediate halt. Amy had an extremely dangerous infection in the brain. She was only 19 days old. After spending weeks in the ICU, we realized that she had severe tissue damage. Medical advances could not increase the likelihood of normal development. I must confess, the thought lingered in my mind that there was no way I could continue homeschooling our kindergartner, preschooling the next child, and keeping the toddler busy while taking care of the huge needs this child was going to have.

I prayed and prayed, and finally brought my fears to my husband. He gently encouraged me, telling me that God would provide what we couldn't and that He would continue to bless us, our children, and our home if we committed our children to Him. My husband was right. God's Word is filled with promises of the blessings He will bestow upon us when we serve Him with all our hearts, minds and souls, and allow our children the same opportunity. Yes, our life took an unexpected turn, but we relied on His promises and continued homeschooling in spite of the challenges, knowing that God would always provide.

Do you recall what brought you to the idea of homeschooling? There are many reasons that compel parents to seek this excellent form of education, but are your goals today to use homeschooling to give God glory? Are you using homeschooling first and foremost to strengthen your child's relationship with Jesus in every way possible? Homeschooling with the right foundation is the best opportunity ever granted to us by God to fulfill our responsibility in directing our children to a lifelong relationship with Christ.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Timothy 3:15-17