Recently Sue and I had a scheduled home school convention to attend together in Greenville, SC. However, as it turned out, Sue had a death in her husband’s family that would present a need for her to be elsewhere, thus leaving the Two Voices down to One. When my husband and I finally arrived in Greenville, I began to prepare our sales and presentation table alone. While Sue had done this set-up part at book sales alone many times before, this was my first time and I felt anxious. I began to pray and I asked God, “How shall I let our audience know that the Two Voices are only One this time?” Then in that still small voice that God uses to speak to us, I felt Him press into my spirit, “You are never alone. I’ll speak through you as always, but for both of you this time. I am the other voice.” With that inspiration, I felt ready.
In addition, God sent more encouragement to me through three visitors, and all were very encouraging in various ways. One stood out, Beth, who gave me permission to use her name. When I questioned her about why she decided to begin home schooling, she shared that her daughter, Susan, had several problems at school that went unaddressed for a while, and her son, Ben, was struggling also due to typical reading problems. Her story had a happy ending as both children did well with homeschooling, graduated from college, and now have productive careers as adults.
As public school teachers, Sue and I had to learn another side to the education story: that sometimes the best place for learning to happen continues to be the home with the loving tutorage of a parent. I asked Beth to give new or prospective home school parents some points to ponder when considering or doing homeschooling. She replied, “Embrace every season from the snotty nose, clinging ones who are too soon gone, to every moment that helps build relationships.” She also said “to travel, travel, travel with your children because it creates many teaching moments. They learn geography, you see life in action – reenactments, see the actual rain cycle as it falls on your windshield, and learn about different people and better ways to react to them through these experiences.”
I knew God had sent Beth and others to inspire me. It gave me the momentum to arrive at our workshop time with confidence and purpose. We opened with prayer and song, and I briefly told those in attendance about Sue’s absence. The rest of the session went well as things fell into place. No matter how frail, afraid, or alone you may feel, you are not alone. God is always there to support you and meet your every need. Acknowledge Him and look up – your Redeemer will draw near to you for He is the true “lifter of our heads.”
Deidre
