Our homeschooling journey has been filled with many amazing experiences and we’ve had the opportunity to meet some great friends and wonderful people along the way.  One of the turning points in our homeschooling journey began when we joined Classical Conversations.  We had just moved into a new home and I was finally recovering from two years of being ill.

I responded to an announcement posted about Classical Conversations on a yahoo group that I’m a part of.  After responding to the post, I began dialoguing with the state manager about becoming a tutor for the program.  She mentioned to me the possibility of directing.  It sounded interesting to me.

I had been following the classical model of educating for some time and Classical Conversations put together the program that I was trying to implement for my children.  I was excited to have a system already in place that I could implement for my children, while also gathering weekly with other families for support and friendship.

Because I knew we could not afford the program, I began seriously considering the idea of directing a community.  Eventually, I was hired as a director and directed for 4 years.  I could  never have imagined the tremendous blessings that we would experience.  I had joined for the academics.  But what we received was FAR MORE.

Since we were coming out of a season of isolation, we were ready to reconnect with the world.  That season of isolation, I believe, was also a season of  preparation.  It was a time when Jesus brought me near to Himself so that I might be filled.  And let me tell you, I felt like an overflowing fountain!  I was bubbling over with joy and excitement about this amazing and loving God that we serve.  I couldn’t wait to share of this amazing treasure that I had had the privilege to experience.    I had tasted of His goodness, and it was mm… mm… good!

So my children and I began serving the families that were brought to our community.  And there were so many!  We prayed with families who were in the midst of crisis.  We walked along side of families in conflict with one another.  I shared wisdom with mamas who needed direction.  I used my creativity to create chants and songs, to help the children memorize scripture and other facts.  I made myself available every week to be a blessing in the lives of the families in our community. My children set up tables each week, cleaned and had fun playing with their friends.

I pray that along the way, I pointed people to Jesus.  I hope that they saw in me that Jesus is real.  That He still interacts in our lives.  That He cares.

I certainly experienced His realness through the families in our community.  I was able to connect with some wonderful women who loved Jesus.  They challenged me.  They taught me.  They prayed with and for me.  Those ladies were and still are more precious than jewels to me.  And many of their children became real and lasting friends with my children.

Being in community with people is good, but it isn’t always easy.  Living and loving together will inevitably bring conflict.  Our weaknesses will exposed.  We will hurt one another.  Our insecurities will surface.  And the things we tried so hard to keep hidden, will begin to leak out.  Such is the lot of living with imperfect human beings.  I’ve had to confess my failures many times!   As we live among imperfect people, we learn patience, and we learn how to love.  We cannot do these things without divine intervention.  I so quickly turn back to self-preservation, and  people pleasing.  But Jesus continually calls me to press into the hard places with Him by my side.  He calls me to love even when it’s tough or I’ve grown weary.  I’ve experienced the beauty and blessing of love that refuses to quit!

I’ve experienced the beauty of people helping one another, and serving one another for the common good.  I’ve seen the strong lift the weak. I believe all of the unique differences that we experience in a community give us a glimpse into the multi-dimensionality of God.  In other words, I get a clearer picture of God when each of us, in our uniqueness come together.  It’s like putting together a puzzle with a buzillion pieces.  The more pieces we put in place, the more complete the picture becomes.

We’ve moved on to new things, but I’m still committed to staying connected with others in community, and maintaining intimate friendships.  We meet with friends once a week in order to learn and have fun together!

Have you found a small community of families to meet with regularly?  How has it benefited you and your family?