We will never forget.
I see those words frequently in reference to the horrible events of September 11, 2001, and as I recently walked a 9/11 memorial trail, I was reminded of the many lives that were taken that day.
Sometimes we don’t want to be reminded of bad things that have happened, yet as in the case of 9/11, we must remember so that we won’t forget those who died on that day or the lessons we have learned.
After our homeschool group visited the 9/11 memorial trail, I was with some new and young homeschooling moms at a park discussing what the special speaker at our moms’ meeting had just reminded us – that we can get so busy and bogged down in our homeschooling day that we forget to smile. She had encouraged us to look in the mirror and smile!
As we talked, I said, “Oh, we have lots of laughs throughout our day!”
Then later I started thinking….and remembering….That’s NOT what it has always been like. Have I forgotten what it’s like to be a young homeschooling mom? In the early days of teaching, the day’s could sometimes be rather frustrating with 3 little ones.
Sure, I love to remember all the fun times we have had homeschooling – reading books while cuddling together, playing Mother May I while reviewing math facts, taking a field trip to the zoo – BUT it’s not so fun to remember the not so good times – grading the sloppy papers, hearing the complaints about a writing assignment, realizing I got caught up in teaching and missed the time to take the potty training child to the bathroom…
Yeah, I don’t usually like to remember those times, but I don’t want to cause discouragement to others by leaving the impression that homeschooling has always been a breeze for me. By NOT forgetting those struggling days of the past, hopefully I’ll be reminded to be an encouragement to the young homeschooling moms who are now going through those same type of difficult days.
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Oh, that I will never forget – never forget those hard times that God brought me through, so that I can be an encouragement to those who are now struggling.
How about you? Have you forgotten what is was like in the past – going off to college, traveling on deputation, homeschooling little ones, raising children, going through an illness? No matter what stage of life we are in, there is someone we can encourage.