(soft orchestral music)
- One of the great educators of our time recently said,
"Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart,"
and that great educator's my wife.
Going to school is challenging enough
when there's no pandemic to contend with.
And now, we're all faced with these incredible obstacles
in educating our children.
From deciding whether or not to send them back
to the brick and mortar school building,
to how to manage being a volun-told homeschool teacher,
to choosing which color face mask to wear today.
The challenges are real.
I want you to be encouraged today
and not just hear the words as a nice cliche.
And by definition to be encouraged
is to make someone feel full of hope, to be hopeful.
So in an effort to encourage you,
remember that you're not alone.
All of our isolation, our quarantine, our social distancing
can definitely make us feel this way.
But rest in the reality that you are not alone.
Look to the people around you and reach out to each other,
to your friends, your family, your neighbors,
your faith community.
And while you reach out for encouragement,
it's very likely that you will also be a source
of encouragement for someone else.
I recently read a story about a mom
sending her son to school.
And she said, "Wake up son, it's time to go to school."
And the boy said, "But why mom, I don't wanna go."
And the mom says, "Give me two reasons
why you don't wanna go."
So the son said, "Well, the kids hate me for one,
and the teachers hate me too."
So the mom replied, "Oh, that's no reason
not to go to school.
Come on now, and get ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to school,"
the son said.
To which the mom replied, "Well for one,
you're 52 years old and for another,
you're the teacher."
This story reminds me to keep things in perspective.
Be mindful of the ways that this pandemic is impacting,
not only you, but other people, other parents,
teachers and children.
We will walk through this season of life together.
So be hopeful, be full of hope and be encouraged today.
Grace and blessings to you.
(soft orchestral music)