Last week, we rented a house at Murrells Inlet, SC. The waves from the Atlantic were only a short walk away which was great since I consider myself to be a world-class body-surfer. The waves are my favorite part of the beach, and I had ample opportunity to enjoy them with my son-in-law.
On Thursday, I woke up to a dense fog rising off the water. We couldn’t see the beach from the house, and everything seemed murky. By mid-morning, though, we could see the waves pick up, and we ran out to enjoy them. We had a great time.
We needed that.
On Saturday, we returned back home and prepared to reset our house and Teach Them Diligently.
Our beach trip is an annual adventure, but this year it felt needed more than ever. In fact, while at our event in Branson, I kept telling people it would be more of a hibernation than a vacation. Leslie and I were drained emotionally after all that’s happened the last few months—especially myself. We’ve shared a lot of that in previous Homeschool Subjects if you’d like to catch up. (Just search, “Good Overwhelm” in your email box)
I don’t mention this to make you long for your own beach trip or to brag about my wave surfing abilities.
The point is that sometimes you get lost. It’s easy to get weighed down under an emotional assault. Sometimes things come at you in waves with a lot of force. Too many good things can drain you as much as bad things.
Most of you are just finishing your school year. You are ready for a deep breath, so the encouragement I have for you is simple, but I think it will be impactful.
That quiet, foggy morning reminded me how sometimes life feels cloudy, too. On Sunday, I heard our pastor preach on Romans 15:13-16.
Feel free to read it…
Let’s start here:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Paul follows this encouragement with another one—he reminds his readers they are “full of goodness.” He knew it because they had stuck with his long, deeply theological letter. Keep in mind that Paul did not write this letter with chapter and verse breaks the way we see it in our modern version. This letter was long.
The reader had proven their care by their attention, endurance, and faithfulness. Paul had heard the stories of the good they had done for those that needed help in Rome.
They clearly cared—about what he had written and about caring for others.
I would join him in saying that I know something about you—the reader—just because you opened and clicked on this email and have read this far. I know that you care deeply for your children and want them to know Christ personally.
I also know that because you are reading this email you are looking for answers on how to disciple your children better. This is important to you.
Paul continues his encouragement and speaks of the “grace” given to him by God. The Greek word there for grace is “Charis”, and it is used over 150 times in the New Testament. Sometimes our modern versions translate this word credit, thanks, and grace.
We tend to think of grace like a peaceful pool you step into when it’s more like a wave that knocks you off your feet. This grace that knocks you off your feet is a gift.
This is the gift Paul was given that interrupted his journey to Damascus and shocked him to his core. This grace re-oriented his whole life and ripped him out of the goals and plans he had for his life since he was a young man. He went from being an enemy of the Cross to its evangelist and eventually a martyr whose life was used to facilitate the spread of the gospel through the known world.
This goes way beyond salvation and understanding the redemption of the Cross. The grace Paul is talking about is the mission Jesus gave him many years before the writing of this letter. God had given him the mission of bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles, and He had given him the abilities, talents, and gifts to achieve that mission. God never gives his people a mission that he does not equip them to handle.
This brings up a question for all of us regarding mission. Our mission is a “grace” from God. Better yet, it is a gift that God has wrapped and handed us with all the celebration and excitement we can stand. He has wrapped it up and hands it to us. All we have to do is wrap our hands around it and unwrap it.
Paul was equipped for his mission, and so are you. So, the question for each of us is what is your mission?
As Christian parents, bringing your children to Jesus Christ is your first mission. (Mk 10:14)
God has equipped you with every ability, talent, and gift you will need to achieve that mission. Your mission is to bring your children to Christ and allow Him the great joy of Redeeming them.
Even in seasons of emotional exhaustion or disorientation, we must remember that God has given us a clear mission—to bring our children to Jesus—and He has equipped us with everything we need to fulfill that mission, by His grace.
How amazing is that?
Resources to Help You Parent and Homeschool Missionally
- Free resources- 7 Key Attributes for Homeschool Success–– Get the workshop from TTD Branson 2025, the powerpoint, an outline, and questions for reflection.
- The Great Commission Begins At Home. This podcast episode will help you better understand how your mission is incorporated into your daily life as a family.
- Ordering Your Life Like Your Mission Is Greater. In this podcast, you’ll discover practical strategies for aligning your homeschooling practices with your greater mission.
- When Blessings Feel Like Too Much: My Season Of Good Overwhelm. David referred to this letter from Leslie in his note above.
