Lend A Helping Hand
to A Home Schooling
Mom
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Perhaps you have read the previous articles and you think, "I agree that home schooling is the best way, but I don't have any kids." Maybe your kids are all grown, or you cannot have any, or don't yet. This does not mean that there is nothing you can do to help those that do home school!
On an everyday level, you can help home schooling mothers. Here is a testimony that shows how much difference a helping hand can make. This is from our friend, Kathy M., a lady with 9 children and a very busy schedule. :-)
"Schooling is going fairly
well, considering all the confusion of a baby, and two other young ones while
I'm trying to teach! The Lord is good, and answered a prayer of mine! I've
been praying for someone to offer to 'serve', and help me with the little ones
for an hour or two a day. A lady from church has started doing that, and it's
so wonderful. We get much more accomplished in 'school' while she keeps the 3
and 5 year old occupied with their 'school.'
They enjoy the attention, and
so far it has gone very well. Otherwise, I'm not sure I could handle it all. I
still have to teach my 7 & 9 year olds most all of their subjects, and it
takes longer than I thought it would as I worked on a schedule. But the Lord knows
how to keep us depending on Him! I keep telling Him that I can't handle it all,
and I need His wisdom and help. I sure would appreciate your prayers."
Perhaps you would consider helping a home school mom that you know that is having a hard time keeping up with everything. This would be much more constructive than gossiping and asking her or her kids regularly how school is going. Kind and willing help could be a real blessing to someone you know. Also, it would give you sympathy for the struggles that home schooling mothers have, thus enabling you to pray with more understanding.
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Also, notice that the younger children enjoy the attention. This is a way to minister to them also; a way to be like Jesus. Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Perhaps if you really feel that you are unable to help with children or the actual home schooling, you could consider helping out in another way. One lady that I know of is cleaning for a busy home school mom. There are other possibilities. Preparing a meal to take to them, especially during an extra busy time, could be a real help. Babysitting other children when one or more has to go to the doctor or some such thing would be helpful. If you live near by, just calling to see if she especially needs something when you are going to the store could be a relief to her worried mind.
Of
course, if there is nothing else that you can really do to help, you can always
pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray
without ceasing.
Ephesians 6:18 Praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
And, don't forget the scriptural admonition Hebrews10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: as well as the blessing of Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary... A word of encouragement in season can be very uplifting to a weary home schooling mother! This is something that we all can and should do. :-) We can even do this through email.
If you really feel that this is something that you would like to do, the best thing would be for you to make a time to meet with the home schooling mother that you would like to help. Talk to her about what you can and are willing to do. If she is willing to accept your help, then make the arrangements of what time is best for both of you.
A strong warning goes with this! If you are planning to become involved with a home school family, it is very important that you know how to keep your mouth shut. Not only can gossip be a hurtful and horrible thing (Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.) it could also actually destroy the home. With local and national government wanting to have more control over the schooling of children, and with the Child Protection people looking for trouble, even a "prayer request" that is passed on could be devastating to the family. If you see problems or short comings that bother you, it is very important that you keep them strictly to yourself. Do not tell any unsaved person, nor anyone that is inclined to "speak their mind" or pass on "prayer requests." (I put "prayer requests" in quotes because much gossip and harm is done by repeating things under this title.) If you are a gossipy type of person and are inclined to "worry" out loud to people about perceived short comings of others, then please leave the home schoolerssalone. It is better for you to leave them alone than to be responsible for the children being taken from the home and the parents' hearts broken!alone. It is better for you to leave them alone than to be responsible for the children being taken from the home and the parents' hearts broken!
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
--Mary Van Nattan Stephens
background
& graphics by Mary Stephens
updated 2020