The "Home" in Homeschooling

"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out" (1 Timothy 6:7).

Another typical day had started for our homeschool family, but as it progressed, we noticed the weather changing drastically. The northwest sky looked unusually dark and threatening, and by 2:45 p.m., we knew no ordinary storm was approaching. Hurrying outside, my son covered the garden and flower beds with old blankets, my daughter quickly herded the animals into the barn, and I drove the cars inside the garage and shut the door. As we finished and ran back to the house, the storm let loose with all its fury. Quickly, we ran down the basement steps to my daughter's bedroom and huddled in the corner of her closet. As we watched debris fly by my daughter's small bedroom window and heard the deafening noise of baseball-sized hailstones, we hung on to each other for dear life.

Normally, these storms only lasted a few minutes, but this one went on for almost an hour. When the worst was finally over, we opened my daughter's bedroom door and what we saw made us sick. Glass and hailstones were littered throughout the house and water damage from the rain was everywhere. The force of the wind had embedded pieces of glass into the woodwork, and every window on the north side of our home was completely shattered.

What we saw when we walked outside was even worse. Every tree and shrub on our seven acre farm had been completely defoliated. Our roof was missing half of its shingles, and there were places where the hailstones had gone completely through the plywood sheeting. Holding each other, we thanked God we were safe, but we knew our home was going to be unfit for living and homeschooling for many days.

That awful day our house was damaged, we learned a new definition for the word "homeschooling." As we cried over the damage, we realized that homeschooling wasn't dependent on a house with four walls and a roof. As long as we had each other and our faith in God, we were still a family that could homeschool anywhere.

Lord, each day I take my home for granted and forget that it too is a blessing from You. Thank You for all the comforts my home provides and help me to use it to minister to my family and others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Comments(10 comments)

BRENDA T 02/25/2009 14:34:18

Thank you for sharing your faith. As I read these devotions, I can relate to your walk with Jesus. It is sad to see our nation turning its back on him. If everyone could experience living for him then the material things of this world would be meaningless. Family would be more important.

Only by Jesus,

Brenda Taylor

DONNA J 02/25/2009 15:06:06

What an awesome testimonial about the simplicity of faith in our very real God and King.

We are also, though in a different way, freshly reminded of and very grateful for just having one another.

Our house wasn't destroyed, but we were forced to sell it due to a drastic reduction in our income and the threat of foreclosure.

We made a decision that being together was more important than starving to keep that house.

Home is where the heart is...and our hearts are with the Lord and one another. We understand the vital importance of keeping our priorities straight.

God bless you and yours as you are adjusting to the unexpected changes, and may the restoration of your home and farm property make things even better than they were before. In Jesus' name. Amen.

BONNIE K 02/25/2011 08:10:30

Donna J~ what a beautiful blessing for the author of this. your story & faith is encouraging too. Thank you ladies.

ELIZABETH I 02/25/2011 08:23:16

Thank you for sharing this story. I look forward to these devotionals everyday. As I read it the winds are blowing here in WV at 50-60 miles per hours since last night. I was praying that God protect our home and the little we have. Then I read your story. It is true. To have each other is the main thing. God will supply all the rest even when he allows for it to be taken away.

JULIE A 02/25/2011 17:47:16

Elizabeth I, What a great way to word it!! Basically, He'll supply all of our needs even when He allows it to be taken away. It doesn't make sense from a human perspective, but that's the beauty of His Sovereignty. He is our Jehovah Jireh!!

KATHY S 02/25/2012 07:50:57

7 years ago, I stood in the back foyer of our Duplex, talking to the local newspaper reporter "sayng Thank God my little boy was o.k.", that was all I cared about.

You see, my neioghbor in our duplex or 2 flat has a Drug addicted son, I am not judgeing, it's just a sad fact.. At 4 a.m., I can remember hearing screams outside, I assumed our neighbors weree having yet another party and closed my eyes again, it persisted, and I got out of bed, when I stood up, I felt as though I was inhaling "Gas", I heard people and yelled out whats wrong? the reply was "Fire" get out !

I went to grab my son who was 6 yeras old at the time , the very second I grabbed him all power went out and we were scrambling for the door in our pajama's.

As I went to put my had on the handle of the front door, the axe was coming down on the middle of the door, the Fireman trying to get in. I screamed for them to stop. We did get out,, but, all our things were either smoke damaged or ruined as the fire had spread into our apartment. I had no renters insurance at the time, so, it meant we were litterally homeless, and everything was a loss.

But God had not forsaken us, he had spared my son's and my own life, and really, just as you mentioned in yuour devotional, you had "eachother" and that's really all that mattered.

The same people who started the fire still live here in our building,

My son and I pray "Guardian Angels" around our home every night now, never miss a day, iof something bad is going to happen again, we pray that God and his Angels, once again will get my son and I out to saftey,

I am sorry for your losses as well, I will pray for you and your family, and I thank you for allowing us to leave commments, as I was able to share my testimony too.

DEBBIE H 02/25/2012 08:42:37

God's timing is perfect. He allowed for you to get all the way to safety! I'm in tears at your inspiring story and what we all can learn from it. Thanks for sharing and hope you were able to re-establish a 'home' again.

LYNN S 02/25/2012 09:51:01

My prayers go out to the writer of this post and Kathy S. What an incredible loss you both suffered. I am so thankful that both decided to not blame Jesus but to hold on to your faith. I am amazed at what the enemy will do to destroy this process but it does draw us closer to our Creators

perfect purpose, to mold and shape us to bear the image of his beloved son, Jesus the Christ.

I am so thankful today that we can all come to a place where we can be inspired, encouraged, humbled and reminded of God's mercy. Where we can pray for each other in this process of educating God's children for the

future he has planned here on earth and in eternity.

May God's greatest measure of healing blessings and wisdom flow through you, in you and all around you today.

DEAN D 02/25/2012 10:14:06

i need something that is not so much on having and raising babys that is natural god will assist

KATHY S 02/26/2012 07:56:06

Debbie H and Lynn S

Thank you so much for your kind words and prayers ! You have touched my heart this morning.

God has replaced everything we lost in time, and has given us his immense strength since our experience.

We have learned to depend on him for everything always. And he never lets us down.

My son who is almost 13 years old now, has an attitude that amazes me.

If something goes wrong, he says "Jesus must of let that happen so something good could happen for someone else or maybe us". He goes to God for Everything. Any problems, no matter how small or how big, He takes it to Jesus.

Thank you both again. May God bless and keep you both and your families as well !

In Jesus name. Amen.


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