Conventional Wisdom

For the past several days, the older two and I have been reading in Acts 10-11about Peter’s vision of the unclean meats, leading him to begin to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.  This has given us a powerful opportunity to talk about the courage and conviction it takes to step out in what you believe regardless of what friends say.   I’ve had a chance to think about this myself on an individual level.    What would my old friends, and even my parents, now gone to glory, say about my current lifestyle?

My mom:  never put yourself in position to depend upon a man.  (This was based largely upon her horrid experience with her first husband, before she met my father).

My dad: you quit that good job?

Friend #1: you have how many kids?   What’s the matter with your TV?

Friend #2: you’re doing what?   After all those years in school?

 Friend #3/ family: are you guys going to homeschool all the way through high school?   What about the prom?  How are your kids going to get into college?

 Conventional wisdom tells us to complete high school, complete college, get a job, work 30-40 years (or until you are laid off enough times to lose complete faith in the economy), then retire and live a few golden years before you die.   The media builds upon this conventional wisdom with even more dismal images:  obnoxious, ungrateful children who don’t love, much less respect, anything or anybody; if a husband is there, he is an unintelligent buffoon who sits like furniture in front of the television, and whose only contribution to the family is a paycheck.    Job showed Godly wisdom when he prayed for his friends and their conventional wisdom instead of operating in like kind and cursing them all.

I remember years ago when we began to homeschool, my sister sent a birthday card to her ‘unique, one of a kind, broke the mold’ sister.   We laughed about it later when I shared with her that I wear that label as a badge of honor.   I have a gift of faith—a supernatural ability to believe God—but for years I allowed people to stop me.   I have increasingly freed myself from the boundaries and limitations of conventional wisdom, and I’ve found the road less traveled by to be far more rewarding.   Here are some of my most precious treasures (on most days): 

a husband who loves being around us, hates to be away for too long, and when he travels, often tries to figure out a way for us to tag along  

kids who are respectful to us and to others, who laugh with and love each other

a family who is blessed to have everything we need and most of what we want amidst our sacrifice

There is so much fruit to this way of living, and as we enter the season of welcoming others to the homeschooling community, let us not forget that we are blessed, wherever we are.

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4 thoughts on “Conventional Wisdom

  1. I totally agree with this post on conventional wisdom!!! it is true that so many others can make us question whether our decisions are sound, but we can be confident that God will tell us what He wants us to do – and HE is who matters!!! I'm glad you are not being swayed be others opinions and are appreciating your family and your role in it!!
    hugs,
    marie

  2. I just LOVE reading your posts! They are so encouraging. My husband & I were just talking about how crazy his family & most of mine consider us for: (1) me quitting my job & staying home with my daughter when we adopted her, (2) homeschooling, (3) believing that what God promises in His Word is true!…I could go on & on, but you've written a beautiful post that pretty much describes things!
    God bless you & your dear family!
    Stacey

  3. Hi. Just wanted to let you know that I've enjoyed reading your posts. I can totally relate…I often wonder what my old friends would think about me now. She's what? Baptist? And she does what? Homeschool? Is she crazy or what! How many children does she have? And she wants more? That can't be the same girl. BTW, I just knew you were from Texas even before I checked…
    blessings,
    dani

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