Yes, You Can!

Well into the throes of teaching writing and literature at Excelsior one day, a parent walked in between classes and asked me if I would be a guest speaker at the upcoming FACE (Forest Acres Christian Educators) meeting. “Uh … yeah … sure, I guess.” (Something like that came out of my mouth.) The topic of the evening was to be, “What About Me?” She said I was selected because I not only homeschool, but I teach and I write as well. 

After the day and the week settled down (which it never really did, or does – but it’s a nice thought) I began to question why I agreed to be a speaker. Certainly, I do juggle a lot of balls; but don’t we all, as mothers, perform daily feats that, if we really stopped to consider all that we accomplished we would marvel at ourselves? I think we’re kept sprinting from the minute our feet touch the ground in the morning to the moment we drop onto our mattresses in the evening so that we won’t consider all that we complete in a single day and thus, lead us into self adulation and, ultimately, pride.

I only do what God has put on my plate to do and what I feel led to do. I always say that if the Lord isn’t giving me the time and the skill to do it, I won’t take it on. However, for some reason He feels that I can. (“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”) Because He has given me much more than I deserve, all I can say is, “Thank you Lord. Yes, I can!” –What else am I to say to Him?

A common question I get from people is, “How can you homeschool? I could never homeschool.” My response to them is: “If you’re a parent, you already homeschool. I’m just doing it all day.”

I read somewhere recently: “What’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin? A violin has strings. A fiddle has strangs.” So, what is the difference between a parent and a teacher? Nothing. Contrary to popular belief, the word “discipline” does not mean spanking, yelling, or time out. The meaning is derived from the Latin word “disciplina,” which means “teaching and learning.” A Webster’s definition is this: “training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.”

As parents, our God-assigned responsibility is discipline – to teach our children in the way they should go. It doesn’t mean that children should not be exposed to and influenced by the teachings of others. However, as parents, we are constantly teaching our children from the minute they rise in the morning until they lay their heads on their pillows:

- how to read their Bibles

- how to pray

- how to brush their teeth

- how to dress

- how to eat mannerly

- how to help with chores

- how to address adults and peers

- how to study

- how to apply knowledge

- how to make right choices

The list goes on.

Why do I write and teach at Excelsior while at the same time attempting to homeschool my children? It’s not because I’m seeking martyr status. Long ago, when I was a little girl, God instilled in me the desire and talent for writing and it is one of those nagging voices that won’t go away. Fortunately, it has enabled me to earn an income during times when I relied on my income for survival. I write because I can.

Yet, why did I pile yet another thing on my plate by becoming a teacher at Excelsior? Because others thought I could. They motivated me and encouraged me, and it ultimately became my in-road to homeschooling and a blessing beyond blessings. I said I couldn’t. Couldn’t possibly. “Yes, you can!” they said. And wouldn’t you know it, I can!

As mothers, we don’t think we can have a quiet time, but we can. We might have to get up that half-hour earlier, but we can. As mothers we don’t think we have time to exercise, but we can. We might have to walk while we listen to scripture—as we’re forced to be queens of multi-tasking, but we can. As mothers, we don’t think we can have a neat or clean (I believe these are two separate conditions entirely) house, but we can. As mothers, we don’t think we can pinpoint a single minute to spend with our husbands, but we can— even if it means catching up on the day’s events at the same time you’re preparing the evening meal and he’s doing the bills.

We may have to be creative. We may have to keep a detailed schedule for every day. (I’m a bit anal in that department.) We may have to be flexible. We may have to not be so hard on ourselves when it doesn’t work out as we expected, but we can do anything if we’re called to do it. Anything through Him who strengthens us.

Not all of us are called to have full plates. Our portions may be different, which is why we are loathe to compare our plates with others. I know a mother whose already large plate is overflowing beyond capacity – way more than mine. She is a single mother (not by choice) of two adopted boys; she homeschools; is a CPA; houses her grown nephew; and, will soon house her daughter and grandchildren due to her son-in-law being deployed. Yet, she is always well dressed, attractive, and exudes a positive attitude.

A neighbor once said to me, “I could never be a single mother.” When my first husband left me alone with a three-month-old adopted girl with a birth defect and a five-year-old boy, I had no choice but to say, “Yes, I can Lord.” And I did.

That little engine didn’t think it could either, but it did. As mothers, we can do far more than we can imagine ourselves doing. And, oh, the rewards!

“Lord, you bless with words assuring, ‘I am with you to the end.’

Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend.

And, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity.

With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.”