I know there are many women out there who wrestle every evening when homework time rolls around. To have a child who struggles with school work is like another full time job. It drains you! It keeps you up at night wondering how you can help him or her. You have left many tears on your bedspread as you wiped your eyes praying for wisdom on the break-through this child needs.
I had that child.
Ross is my outdoors son. He was on top of every game. Totally successful in sports and fun! He knows immediately how to take any old activity and make it genius.
But when it came to reading, he struggled. As a homeschooling mom, I knew how important reading was. I needed for him, I desired for him, I ached for him to be a great reader. After all, it was my favorite subject. It came easy for me. And it was important to life. There were times when I wanted to choke reading down his throat because I felt like he wasn’t trying enough. So we found him a reading tutor. She met with him Monday after Monday and each time he came home, she found no problems. He would read and understand all the words she had on his sheet. (A lot of them I had never seen or heard before!)
Ross graduated from high school (barely) and wanted to go to college, but with his ACT score I knew he would have to choose a community college. But my son only applied to one school, and he was accepted.
So off to Chicago we went to get him set up in his dorm room at Moody Bible Institute. I wondered how he would do it. He had to work, study, and there would be TONS of reading. But Ross moved in with the same passion for life that he had on every field, court, or alley.
Isaiah 55:8 says it best, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” From the beginning, I could see that God was preparing a man after His heart in my son Ross. Moody has each student, every semester, participate in a PCM (Practical Christian Ministry). He chose SLAM (Saving Lives by Athletic Ministries). He now uses all the skills and activities in some of the worst parts of Chicago working with and modeling for children what a godly man looks like.
During Christmas break, he encouraged and led a daily Bible study in my home with the rest of my children and any friends or strangers they might invite. As he led this study, he would have them read a portion of the Bible and take his turn when it came around. His reading, no longer an issue; but his knowledge of God’s word, out of this world!
I spent a lot of time focusing on what I thought was important for my children to succeed in this world, but I also spent a lot of time praying with and for them and giving them Scriptures—truth that would never fail them.
So for each mom who has a child struggling with school. Don’t lose heart, don’t give up, and pray. Know that God has a plan and purpose for your child. Hope in Him.
This semester, Ross made an A in Greek. Most of all, he is making an A in what matters! I thank God for him!
Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'”
