Keeping it real as I wrestle with what is good, better, and best

It seems that I am always eager to give an answer to anyone who asks me for Biblical counsel.  My perspective is usually clear when I'm looking at the circumstances of someone else.  However, when the decision is mine to make and involves my life and my children, I feel as if blinders have been super-glued to my face.  I stumble along what seems to be a long and winding path that is actually no more than a circle bringing me back to the same dazed spot where I began.

After three years of having our house come on and off the MLS, each time with the asking price even lower, we are now debating dropping the price yet again.  My real estate agent noted that if our sovereign God's plan is for us to remain here right now, then even if we drop the price $300,000 in faith that His will be done, He will not present us with a buyer.   Some of the coping strategies I have learned through this long house ordeal are summarized in an article entitled "Housing market downturn:  How sellers cope with falling market values" here.

One of the many reasons we would like to move is so we can have access to more schooling options for our children.  However, after homeschooling for the past few years, I have become very picky about many aspects of our kids' education.  Now I have a bias towards certain curricula and teaching methods.  I am now a hard-core fan of classical education, but public schools are traditional while only two private schools in the area offer classical education.  One classical school charges more for elementary grade tuition than many colleges, and the other has an infinitely long waiting list due to siblings filling up the limited number of opening each year.

I love the flexibility and independent thinking that homeschooling promotes.  However, I also sense that some positive peer pressure regarding completing school work in a timely and excellent manner could be very beneficial for our daughter.  I also wish that we could incorporate more of the elective courses more easily at one location instead of driving across several cities for various extracurricular activities.   I sense that our extremely extroverted children could use more daily interaction with students of all ages.

I also feel like the isolation I am experiencing personally as a home educator is making it harder to bear spiritual fruit.  When I look back on my life and consider all the times that the door has opened for me to share the gospel or offer encouragement, it has almost always taken place at the gym or during a run with friends.  As a homeschooling mom living at our current residence, I do not have the time to join a gym, and there aren't any nearby by with childcare.  Instead of looking back, I guess I should be looking ahead to where God is working now and meet Him there. 

While all these thoughts were running through my mind, I learned about a new school opening near our home.  Read all about it here.   This private Christian school uses the classical model and incorporates many of my top curriculum choices.  Each classroom looks more like a homeschooling environment while offering the social interaction, elective courses, and exciting seasonal activities typically offered by private and public schools.  This school has plenty of openings and the tuition is among the lowest I have seen.   The school operates Monday through Thursday each week leaving Friday open for enrichment classes, supplementation at home, or participation in the wonderful co-op where I have committed to serve this upcoming school year.  However, the school is just beginning so the first year of operation is likely to be rocky.  I had thought about waiting another year before enrolling our kids for a trial period in this school, but that would mean another year of uncertainty regarding selling the house.


Is this new school one of the reasons God has kept our house from selling, or is the school something good but not God's best for our particular family?  Should I at least try it out for a semester and then decide what to do about the house?  If I go that route, then I will have a boatload of nice new text books to sell and detailed school schedule and lesson plans that I will no longer need.  If we move, then this school will not be an option since it would be so far away.

Interestingly, my devotion this morning for July 14 included these words:

Keep walking with Me along the path I have chosen for you.....
....The journey is arduous at time, and you are weak.  Someday you will dance lightfooted on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy.  All I require of you is to take the next stop, clinging to My hand for strength and direction.  Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend.  Stay on the path I have selected for you. 

I usually counsel people to choose the road that requires the most faith and gives more glory to God.  Every road before me seems to require some measure of faith, but the homeschooling road is by all means the most difficult (for me anyway -  but I'm sure many homeschooling moms would say it is by far the easiest), so I think I need to stay on that path for now. 

Psalm 37:23-24 (NIV)

 ²³ The LORD makes firm the steps
   of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
   for the LORD upholds him with his hand.

The Lord delights when we are passionate about following Him and His path for us no matter how arduous. His path, while difficult at times, is also meant to bring us great joy. Nothing brings more peace and joy than being in the center of His will.  Sometimes, however, the path isn't made clear.  Instead, we must merely take the next step in faith without knowing where the path will lead.

Heavenly Father, You possess all wisdom. You know our kids perfectly and love them infinitely.  Please help me say "no" to what is good so that I can say "yes" to whatever is your best for our family.