Hmmmmmm. Sheltering is "doing damage?" Then why does our country pour money into *sheltering* homeless people from the realities of the street? Why do we build tornado *shelters* ? Because we KNOW the "storms" of life are hard, even life threatening -- We want to protect and build up, if only for a night some soul's body and mind and heart because life on the street doesn't change and nature's storms are deadly.

Life's challenges never change -- They will always come around giving our children a chance to negotiate their way through disappointments and setbacks.

Who walks along side our kids -- but the Gentle Shepherd -- He will open the gates and let the tests come and will not be able to take them for our kids -- they must trust HIM for themselves. He will be their sure defense and give them a ready answer for the hope that is in them. Sometimes we DO may step into too soon and short-circuit a lesson the Lord intends for HIS little lambs to learn -- but it sounds like someone you love and respect maybe unburdened herself without thinking? Is she a believer and does she have knowledge of a situation that you need to consider: That is -- did she see you intervene in a squabble the girls should have settled?

Or is she just giving the benefit of her experiences -- or the sum of her fears that are mixed up with her convictions about how she should be caring for her own children regret a few times I stepped in and more than a few I should have intervened! If she has no firsthand comments, smile sweetly and overlook perhaps her viewpoint -- but maybe just check over how you are equipping your little ones to handle "conflict."

Helping kids learn how to handle angry words or ugly remarks *is* important -- we don't need to plop them in the middle of a sewer to teach our kids how to steer clear of nasty situations. . Sheltering is "doing damage?" Then why does our country pour money into sheltering homeless people from the realities of the street? Why do we build tornado shelters -- because we KNOW "storms" and life are hard, even life threatening -- We want to protect and build up, if only for a night some soul's body and mind and heart because the street doesn't change and storms are deadly.

So, too, Life never changes -- it will always come around giving our children a chance to negotiate their way through it. Who walks along side our kids -- but the Gentle Shepherd -- He will open the gates and let the tests come and will not be able to take them for our kids -- they must trust HIM for themselves. He will be their sure defense and give them a ready answer for the hope that is in them.

If God leads you to home school through GRADUATE school, you'll do it right? well -- maybe not that far . . . my son doesn't laugh so hard when I say that -- BWS

© Barbara W. Smith 1998, all rights reserved
Permission is given to reprint any of Barbara's articles in non-profit publications as long as the article is reprinted in full and contains the copyright information and Web site address.

Please send a copy of the publication to:
Third Floor Publishing
PO Box 827
Arnold, MD 21012

We hope our thoughts encourage you in the Lord Jesus Christ who has enabled us to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could have asked or imagined -- please let us know what YOU think. E-mail us at workbook@toad.net. (Please don't forget to include your e-mail address with in the body of the message--we've had some of our responses returned due to insufficient e-mail addresses.)