Why we are the school among thorns...

Rendi and Remmy in their favorite tree ("Bodark")-------------------------->>>>>>>>
6 years ago, planting our "marriage" tree

Well, there are sooo many reasons we are the school among the thorns. The most obvious is that our farm is covered in Bois de Ark (Bodark) trees....thorn trees. They strangle out nearly every other growing thing. We've tried planting other trees and such only to have them smothered by the "bodark" roots. We do have a few somewhat surviving Mimosa trees and our "marriage" tree (a willow oak).

The other reasons are a little more complex. Let's start with Matthew 13:3-9.

"Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: 'Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when they sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!' "

Okay, so now some of you are probably thinking I've lost my marbles. Let me try to explain. In this parable, Jesus was showing that the seeds that fell among the thorns (thorns being worldly problems, people, etc.) did not thrive. They were choked out by the world. But what if we, as Christians, who grow among the thorns (world) can choke out the worldly? Wouldn't that be WONDERFUL? Isn't that why we're here? And, as we all know, with God all things are possible.

Okay....2nd reason.....despite the fact that the "seeds" fell among "thorns", BECAUSE all things are possible with God, the plants can survive and thrive and be fruit bearing plants and trees.

When we decided to homeschool, I thought I was going crazy. 3 years ago I would have gone into hysterics at the mere idea. God changed that idea, and He changed me. Maybe I represent the thorns, and my children the seeds God so graciously entrusted me with. It is my responsibility to do everything possible to help them thrive, and the only way to do that is with total and complete dependence on my Father's strength and wisdom. It's not my ability, but my AVAILABILITY that He needs.

So you see, we really are among thorns, but the good news is that with our Master's loving tender care, WE ARE THRIVING! Our roots are not shallow, but growing ever deeper every day. Will we homeschool forever? Only our Father knows. I'm only along for the ride, doing whatever He asks of me. I will follow any direction He leads, no questions. For this season, homeschooling is what we are supposed to be doing! :)