Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
Elizabeth, in the years you homeschooled our children, did you ever find yourself getting discouraged?

Elizabeth Smith:
Yes! I got discouraged often. And that actually helped me to nurture a prayer life because I would wake up in the morning thinking, "I do not want to homeschool today." At that point I would pray and I'd ask God to give me the grace for that day—grace for today and bright hope for tomorrow. And the Lord certainly waited on those prayers and helped me with my commitment to homeschool.

I did another thing and over the years I would take notes from friends—notes of encouragement, kind words—and I would put them in my dresser drawer right next to my bed. When I felt discouraged and down, I would open that drawer and read those letters, and they lifted me right up.

I think all through the homeschooling years I also turned to the Psalms often because they are about the best quick fix that I can think of. You can always get encouragement; you can reorient your priorities so you're really thinking about things above and what your long-range goals are in homeschooling.

Mike:
Thanks, Elizabeth, for those good tips. And please join us tomorrow, listeners, as we talk more about how to be enthused about home education.