When the kids were young, I could never imagine them in high school let alone in college. I admired the mothers of high schoolers in our home school support group. They seemed to have it all together. Their demeanor was calm, cool, and confident. I on the other hand, often felt frenzied, frazzled, and fainthearted.  I wondered if there was a secret to their success and if they would share it with me. It’s ironic I felt so intimidated by those veteran homeschool mothers, that I didn’t take the opportunity to approach them. They were the celebrities of the homeschool support group. They led the devotions and the meetings, they headed up committees and went to conventions, they knew everyone and had read everyone. I felt inadequate and self-conscious in their presence and wondered if I would ever achieve their status.

But time and experience is a leveler of sorts, isn’t it? As those ‘celebrities’ graduated their students and moved on, we became the veteran home school moms. We took on responsibilities, went to conventions, and led meetings. Our confidence grew in conjunction with the stature of our children. We made mistakes, just like the moms before us. Now I am in the final stretch and the finish line is just paces ahead and I am surprised that I feel a lot like I did when I began.

There are bends in our course, transitions and new challenges.  It is our job to run the race before us with our eyes on Jesus standing firm on the word of God.  With one hand reaching forward for the baton of faith, and the other hand extended back to encourage those following in our footsteps.

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV)