Support:  to uplift, to sustain, to encourage.

If you define support this way, that would describe our homeschool support group!  H.O.M.E. exists to help sustain, hearten, mentor and exhort each other along this journey of life where our common bond is our obedience to the command in Deuteronomy 6:5-9.

Does it mean we do everything perfectly?  Of course not, because we are all sinners!  Our intentional act of having our children with us throughout the day allows us to come to know our children and in turn let them know us in an extraordinary way that gives us many opportunities to exhibit His love, grace, mercy and peace with one another.  As each of us invests ourselves in our family members, we reap dividends far beyond our expectations.

We can find motivation in the similarities between what the early Christians went through and what we, collectively as a defined group, “homeschoolers” go through.

The early Christians left their families, homes, ways of living, and habits.  Sound familiar?  Leaving behind the cultural norms we were steeped in as we grew up and stepping out in faith and obedience to God’s Word, we enter into the lifestyle of teaching our children at home with all the tribulations and compensation that it brings.

The early Christians gave up all that was familiar to them in order to follow their Savior.  After Christ’s resurrection and ascension, they dedicated their lives to help others learn about Him.  Isn’t that what we do as Christian parents?  Our primary goal is to have our children know and believe in the saving grace of Christ.

Another thing the early Christians did was to serve each other.  They banded together, exhorting and fortifying each other.  Each gave to the community in the ways that they were gifted because all were parts of the body of Christ.  (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Here’s where the community becomes larger.  Now we are talking about believers who choose to associate themselves with each other.  And the community grows and learns from our association with each other, from our devotion to each other.

We all can pray for one other as we are faced with the imbroglios and benefits of teaching our little blessings at home.  I pray that each of you has a Barnabas in your life that nurtures you and helps you to mature in your faith and your homeschool journey.  If you are in need of a Barnabas, please take advantage of our “Mentors List” as the seasoned ladies on the list are willing to devote their hard-earned wisdom and discernment with those that the Lord brings to them.

Abiding in His mercy, grace, peace and love,

Paula Anderson, President of H.O.M.E.

 2 Corinthians 9:8  “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”  NKJV

Copyright Paula Anderson 2006