I think all of us in business tend to have a firm understanding of the fear of failure.  Especially if you are in network marketing or sales.  I mean, let’s face it, if you fail – you starve.  It’s just that simple. That is the reason we spend the money on classes, books and seminars to help us get better at what we do.  But often those in the business field tend to overlook the masses of women around the world who have chosen to put aside their careers and personal ambitions for the higher calling of raising up the next generation. And those mighty women are faced day after day with the responsibility of not failing, for if they do the result will be far more devastating than hunger.  Now add to that mix the responsibility of home educating and you have the perfect combination to bring on a severe case of the paralysis of fear caused by the fear of failure.

I am a home school Mom and I have a calling which often takes me away from the nest.  That gives me the opportunity to feel that fear at an even deeper level!! I often talk to other Mom’s who have chosen the same path, and every time I do I discover we are all struggling with the same challenge.  What if what we are doing is wrong?  What if we choose the wrong path for our kids and they are rejects in society?  What if we do too much, or too little, or not the right things, or the completely wrongs things?  What if we make these sacrifices to only find later this was not our destiny after all?  What if….????  These endless questions can keep us up at night and if we choose to dwell on them in our waking hours, they will rob us of all peace and joy.

I have yet to meet a home educating Mom who hasn’t made great sacrifices to be one.  By making this decision, you are choosing to live on less income, to be mocked by your neighbors and often your family, to die to yourself so you can live for you students, to make endless sacrifices for no visible return and to put yourself into the position to learn to say repeatedly “please forgive Mommy for…”.  That sounds treacherous doesn’t it, yet I know for me, I would choose nothing else.

So how do you overcome this paralysis of fear caused by your desire to do an excellent job raising your kids?  You keep trusting God who promised to complete His good work in you.  (“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Phil. 1:6)  You keep reminding yourself of all of the reasons you chose to take this path to begin with. (I highly recommend the book “Home Educating with Confidence”)  You submit your life, your kids and your schedule before God every day and allow Him to lead you in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.  You seek grace and mercy while administering grace and mercy in abundance knowing that whatever you sow, you will reap.  And you get yourself surrounded by people who motivate and inspire you to live out your greatness.  I am so grateful for my friend Diana Morse who reminds me consistently of who I am and why I am here.  She is the reason I have continued home educating my kids and I will be forever indebted to her for that.  And it is to her that I dedicate this blog.

So go on!  Trust God to complete what He started, remind yourself of all of the reasons you embarked on this journey, submit your household, give grace and mercy and connect with someone who inspires you to keep on keeping on. And then, Mom, release your babies to fly. Know that you if you poured your life into theirs, they will soar as an eagle! Do it now!  Your destiny is waiting!!