When Things Are Stacked Against you
During the Coronavirus pandemic I was invited to speak at an online Christian home education conference and asked to share a little of my journey as a lone parent home educator (with children who have additional needs). That’s not easy to do without simply sharing some of our story, so that’s what I did, and that’s what led to me being asked to contribute a small segment to this book. And it is a small segment. Our journey has been complicated and long, with many twists and turns, and I was never going to fully do it justice in such a small segment. I didn’t want to waste time and space on ‘top tips’ or strategies to succeed. I just very much wanted the message to be, ‘If the Lord did it for us He can do it for you too.’
Single parenting is hard. Raising autistic kids is hard. Living on limited means is hard. Doing all of that and also considering home education is huge and incredibly noble. If that is also your story then I salute you, and I absolutely understand the enormity of the task. My prayer is that as you read some of our story it would encourage you and inspire you to believe that maybe you can home educate too, even if it feels impossible right now.
Since writing my segment so much has changed again within our family unit. We’ve had fresh challenges to face, and a new set of curve balls to deal with. Life is a series of seasons, and some seasons are pleasant - like a lovely warm spring day in a garden bursting with flowers. But some seasons are like a tempest - tossing you every which way and leaving you wondering if you are getting out alive. Continuing to put one foot in front of the other, no matter what, and continuing to trust God, no matter what, is where we find the hidden riches of life and faith. The challenges might keep coming. Our circumstances may keep fluctuating. Our seasons may keep changing. But God remains a constant in every single storm and battle. He never leaves us or forsakes us, and His character never, ever changes. It is for that reason, and because I have seen it to be true so many times before, that I know He will continue to make a way for us where there is no way. That’s why I can also tell you, with absolute certainty, that God can make a way for you too.
Kirsteen McLeod is an experienced home educator of over 15 years. She has raised her three children as a lone parent. Two of her children have an Autism diagnosis with associated learning challenges. She lives in rural Perthshire with her emerging young adults and the family dog. When not home educating, Kirsteen works for Scripture Union Scotland and also helps out at her local food bank. She is passionate about grace, compassion, social justice and Autism awareness. She also likes coffee shops and art.
