"Most people thought I should get a 'real' job and put my children in school. We were threatened with social services and criticized by even our church family. I was told I had no business homeschooling."

As Sharon shared the critical words of others, I stared at her, remembering her older son who had graduated from our homeschool family a few years before. He'd become a gifted musician and was well loved by our community.

I thought about how Sharon had helped him overcome difficult odds and a variety of special needs, and how he'd grown into a fine young man. What would have happened if she'd listened to the naysayers instead of the voice of God?

As we continued talking, Sharon told me more of her story. "We were homeless for ten months and eleven days," says Sharon. "Our landlord quit paying the mortgage with the rent money I sent and we were evicted from our home. Then my husband quit sending child support. I contacted 200 places looking for a house for us, but nobody would rent to a single woman with five children and no child support."

Sharon and her children went from house to house, living with friends and family. There were offers from others to take a child or two, to parcel them out, but Sharon was determined to keep her family together. Things started to look up when Sharon was able to sign a contract for a new home. She and the children waited with excitement until the home could be theirs.

Then tragedy struck. Her daughter, just a young teenager, was found lifeless on the bathroom floor. A rare virus had attacked her heart and killed her before she'd even been able to tell them she was sick.

As my friend shared her story, I wept. In my mind I saw her, the year before, at our homeschool group's graduation ceremony. Her deceased daughter's picture smiled from the screen behind her as she stood before us with trembling hands, paying tribute to the young woman who would have graduated with the class of 2005.

I stared in wonder at this woman who'd endured so much, yet sat beside me, her inner light shining. Sharon had homeschooled for almost fourteen years, in the most difficult of circumstances. She'd followed the voice of God, even when others told her she was crazy. She'd survived immense grief, poverty, teaching children with learning disabilities, and criticism. She'd let go of financial stability to provide emotional security for her children, and turned to God to provide her needs. Something inside me shifted and I felt renewed energy to tackle the problems I faced.

I listened as Sharon shared advice. "It's not about wallowing," she told me, "it's about living in victory in the bad times. Sure you have your pity parties with the Lord. You tell him all about it and He makes you feel better. Then you go on."

My youngest son interrupted Sharon and my conversation with shouts of "Hey Mom, watch this!" We grinned at each other as he bounded off the side of the pool and flung himself into the deep end.

My son's tiny body disappearing into the pool painted a picture of Sharon's life. She'd navigated waters well over her head. She could have let them drown her. Instead, she turned to God for strength, and learned to float in His arms when she could swim no longer.

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*Story told with permission. Name changed by request.

** Sharon and her children now live in a four-bedroom house. The income on last year's tax return showed more money earned than Sharon had made in her entire life. She says God's most recent lessons are about learning to dream again.

A home schooling mother of four, Paula Moldenhauer is passionate about God's grace and intimacy with Jesus. Her website offers home schooling hints, book reviews, and a free weekly devotional, Soul Scents. Subscribe to Soul Scents at www.soulscents.us. You can contact Paula at Paula@soulscents.us. Write Sharon at kingsstichery@yahoo.com.