The Sunrise of Your Smile

Dedicated to Sarah and Grace.

Reject the worldly lie that says,
That life lies always up ahead,
Let power go before control becomes a crust around your soul,
Escape the hunger to possess,
And soul-diminishing success,
This world is full of narrow lives,
I pray by grace your smile survives.

Now close your eyes so you can see,
Your own unfinished memories,
Now open them, for time is brief,
And you'll be blest beyond belief,
Now glance above you at the sky,
There's beauty there to blind the eye,
I ask all this then wait awhile,
To see the dawning of your smile.

Michael and Susan Card penned the lyrics above to give , as he says, "...all the advice...[we] could cram into one song ... to the kids...." They chose for a time, as we did, to homeschool their children.  It has been and is a lifestyle that challenges us in many ways. Challenges that more often than not have show the selfishness of my motives and actions which is why I appreciated those, whatever their educational or other lifestyle choices, who are willing to share their thoughts, ideas, triumphs, and struggles.  Susan Card wrote of her experiences as a homeschooling mom in The Homeschool Journey . When I read her book I was challenged by her willingness to do the things that she needed to do for her children's well-being even if that meant stepping outside the "normal" (whatever that is) homeschool choices. But more so I was encouraged to examine what my heart's desire was for my girls. My hope and prayer is that God will take I have done, both the wise and the foolish, and redeem it.   As any parent, and their children, will honestly confess, I haven't been the perfect, or even best, role model, but I hope they know that

"...I would wander weary miles,
Would welcome ridicule, my child,
To simply see the sunrise of your smile,
To see the light behind your eyes,
The happy thought that makes you fly,
Yes, I would wander weary miles,
To simply see the sunrise of your smile."

Love you girls.