Expect the Unexpected
This week I was reminded about these verses about the unexpected from James and Matthew:
The Unexpected Strikes
I had grand plans for this week after a very hectic month that included; hosting exchange students, launching a new girls’ youth ministry, a piano competition, and a trip to country NSW. However, instead of all the exciting things I prepared, life took an unexpected turn. I tripped over in a Woolies car park and broke my wrist. Ouch! It’s a hassle. There’s no denying it. But, as always, it’s become another opportunity to learn and grow.
What I’ve Learned
- Practically, I’ve learned how to type using speech to text technology on Google Docs. I am a person who’s often complaining about how technology just keeps progressing and making people lazy. While that is obviously true in a sense, this week I’ve realized what a blessing it is as well. Without this speech to text technology I wouldn’t be typing anything substantial for the next six weeks. Writing emails with one hand would be a very tedious and frustrating task. For people with severe injuries and disabilities, this technology must be a life-changer. Something I have never had to consider before!
- How kind and servant-hearted our children are. They’ve been enthusiastically helping me in every way that they can. Even offering assistance with things before I realise it’s needed! That has been a really beautiful blessing that I wouldn’t have realised in full without this unexpected turn of events.
- How beautiful our homeschool community is. We’ve had offers of food preparation, lifts, and encouraging phone calls that may have involved a good giggle about how ridiculous I would have looked sprawled out on the ground in the Woolies car park. We truly have come a long way from that very isolated first year of homeschooling.
Living and Learning Together In the Unexpected
As homeschoolers I’m glad that we’re taking this unexpected turn together. I’m grateful to be able to model how to respond in the real life day to day when things don’t turn out the way that we plan. When truly disappointing things happen. I really do believe that this real world learning that we share with our kids as homeschoolers is far more valuable than the regular, monotonous rhythm of a school classroom.
When I broke my wrist, our children had to come with me to the Urgent Care Clinic and wait for one and a half hours with no distractions prepared and a low phone battery. After getting ten minutes each of mobile phone games in the middle of the wait, they were able to take themselves off to Coles and buy themselves lunch. Then they patiently waited until it was time to go.
Despite the opinions others may have about our journey, I really rejoiced in the midst of the unexpected this week. It has given me the opportunity to see more clearly how our children are growing into compassionate, patient and capable little people. These are critical life skills and character traits that no amount of classroom worksheets or projects can instil.
If you’re currently in the middle of an unexpected season, I pray that you could enjoy living and learning together in the midst of the real world chaos.
