September 11, 2024 – Homeschooling Moms Cry, Too!

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

Why Am I Crying?

All day yesterday, I had a lump at the back of my throat and watery eyes. The disease? I needed a good cry. It was all I could do to keep it together. I finally found a moment to lay it all down before my Father. He says we can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) and His Word and His presence were the healing I needed. 

Why was I crying? I couldn’t put my finger on one thing in particular, rather a whole hoard of stored up things like a load of stress, lack of rest, no end in sight of piled up mothering and ministry work to do, and a painful relationship issue. I was brokenhearted. That’s when God comes close. He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). 

The things you are going through now will one day be called the “former things” that will pass away and there will truly be a day when we will see Jesus face to face. Our tears will be exchanged for joy. He will turn our mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11).

And on those days when the tears want to flow, don’t bottle them up, let them flow to be caught in God’s own bottle. Release them and whatever caused them to His keeping. Psalm 56: 8-11 says, 

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

These tearful times draw us closer to the Lord through fellowship with Him in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 4:13). We begin to understand His suffering more fully and allow Him to carry us through ours. 

When the tears come, don’t withdraw from life; withdraw to your “closet” and draw close to Christ. Allow Him to bear and carry your afflictions. He will soon wipe away all tears from your eyes. 

 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

~Deborah

P.S. Listen to this week’s podcast on this topic at www.HomeschoolShow.com

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Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

When Mamas Cry

Hey Mom,

See that cartoon? The one of a mom crying in a closet? That’s based on a real-life story . . . that happened in my home . . . with my bride. And that’s normal and okay. The truth is: homeschool moms get overwhelmed, freak out sometimes, and end up crying . . . and that’s normal and okay. You’re normal and okay when you do.

But here’s the important part to remember: don’t pretend like you don’t get overwhelmed, freak out sometimes, and end up crying. That’s when you get in trouble. When you play the “I’ve got it all together game” everyone loses and nobody wins.

You feel isolated, fake, and feel the heavy burden you carry every single day, and you perpetuate the lie that “Homeschooling moms don’t cry.” Other moms see your perpetual smile and think, “She’s got it all together and I’m the only one who’s falling apart.” That’s a lie.

So mom . . .  get overwhelmed, freak out sometimes, cry . . . and let others know you had another one of those days. Then get up, ask forgiveness if you need to, and homeschool on knowing you’re not alone and that you’re normal and okay.

Be real,

Todd

P.S.—People often ask me if being a smiling homeschooler means we smile all the time. I quickly say, “No, that’s insanity.” Being a smiling homeschooler means we get overwhelmed, freak out sometimes, cry . . . but we celebrate those times knowing that it’s all worth it. I hope you’ll join us over at the Smiling Homeschooler Facebook page.

P.P.S.—You can find a whole bunch of ‘normal-affirming’ homeschool cartoons in the Official Book of Homeschooling Cartoons.

Todd Wilson is a dad, granddad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country. As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, still homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated with four married) in northern Indiana. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

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Stacy Farrell

HomeschoolAdventure.com

Let Them See Your Tears

The telephone rang, and my whole world changed.

Have you ever received such a phone call? 

Earlier that week, during my annual checkup I had joked with the doctor that, since I had just turned 40, my “warranty” had expired. Little did I know . . .

Mortality Knocks
Now, as I heard my doctor on the phone explaining that I had an aggressive form of cancer, I gazed at my 3-½-year-old and 15-month-old sons who played nearby. 

What would this mean for them?

Suddenly, the plans I had made to finally slow down and blow bubbles with my little boys in the summer sunshine—evaporated. Later, as my husband and I pondered the future, my heart ached and my tears began to flow . . .

Precious Lessons Learned
That was more than twenty years ago. What did I learn as a result of that phone call? 

Many things, but the most significant lessons were:

• God’s comfort is real. I experienced it.  
• He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). 
• Not only is He near, but He sees every struggle, every heartache, and every tear (Psalm 56:8).

And, confronted with the possibility that I would not be present to raise my children, I learned that—as much as I love my children—God loves them infinitely more. 

Discernment Required
The most lasting lessons are caught rather than taught. What we choose to believe and model in the midst of a trial will create an indelible impression upon our children.

There are some struggles we experience that are not appropriate to share with children; there are others that provide the opportunity to teach vital life lessons.

Pray—and when it is appropriate—don’t be afraid to let your children see your tears. But let them also see how you cast your cares on the One who cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Trust Him,
Stacy 

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About the author

Surprised by Jesus, Stacy went from an unmarried, childless, thirty-something career woman to a Christ-following wife of more than thirty years with two sons she homeschooled K-12. Author of more than twenty books—including the award-winning Philosophy Adventure and Food Prep Guide: A Plan for Money-Saving, Self-Sustaining Abundance in Hard Times—she loves to equip and encourage homeschool families. Visit her at HomeschoolAdventure.com and at FoodPrepGuide.com.

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Pillar of Knowledge

Roger Smith

Try Tears

General Booth was the founder of the Salvation Army. He commissioned some new volunteers to start a new chapter in a neighboring city. After thorough training and preparation, he sent them off to the work, only to receive, several weeks later from the new workers, a note of desperation.

They highlighted the various methods tried in an effort to reach the men and women in the new city, each failing to raise an interest in the Gospel work. With each passing week, the workers were becoming more discouraged at the lack of response to the new methods and ideas for outreach.

The seasoned leader read of their plight, and responded simply with two words: “Try tears!”

Often homeschool moms shed tears because of their own sense of failure. That is not what General Booth urged. Rather it was tears of concern for the future of another.

Passion for the future success of our child can bring us to a good kind of tears that brings us to our knees on behalf of our child. Those tears can communicate love that inspires and comforts our child. Those tears can bind two hearts together on a journey.

Dear homeschool mom, try tears!

About the author

Dr. Roger Smith is a family doctor in rural Louisiana, where he and his wife, Jan, raised four adventurous children who are all grown, making their own mark in the world. He speaks and writes on parenting issues and produces brief videos that can be found on Facebook @ParentingMattersNow.

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