We can live in fear, or we can be proactive in doing what we can. When we’re faced with a challenge, we can run from it. Or, we can show up in faith, knowing that God is with us, and we are not alone. There’s always a choice.
I most recently needed to put this into practice this past November, when Illinois Christian Home Educators & Homeschool Legal Defense Association hosted a live call for home educators in Illinois. During this call, they brought our attention to the Make Homeschool Safe Act model bill. Kirk Smith, Jeff Lewis, and Ashton Bandy, all of ICHE, along with Will Estrada of HSLDA, shared about the many ways in which the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, who wrote this model bill, wished to strip us of our freedoms. I sensed that the call to action from ICHE & HSLDA was a serious one, so I grabbed my pen, took notes, and listened eagerly for our next steps.
As it so happened, those of us in attendance were called toward some important steps indeed. They asked us to pray, to not be fearful, and to meet our legislators in order to establish relationship with them now. Though we were advised not to fear, I admit that after that call, I did become quite fearful. Contemplating what life would look like if just one of the proposed laws on the model bill were to be adopted, made me incredibly anxious.
As my anxieties multiplied, I did the only thing I knew to do; I prayed. Through a very sleepless night, I asked God for wisdom, surrendered our homeschool to Him, and asked Him to not allow this model bill to see daylight. By the next morning, God put it on my heart to gather moms to pray, so I immediately put out an invitation.
Soon after, we began meeting regularly to pray over the model bill. Those of us who meet, pray for the hearts and minds of our legislators and CRHE. We pray for HSLDA and ICHE. We pray for wisdom & guidance, and most importantly, we praise God. In calling us to homeschool, and giving us so much freedom in Illinois to do so, we thank Him for such an amazing gift.
“For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
God is surely faithful. We’ve seen Him give wisdom, and open doors. He has calmed our anxieties, by giving us peace and hope for the future. Praying together has not only brought us closer, but it’s been a reminder that God is walking with us.
Since the call, I have stepped out in faith, reaching out to legislator’s offices to organize field trips for my homeschool community. I’ve also worked hard to help the families within my reach, be informed of the laws, as well as sharing important resources with them. Through this entire experience, I have had the pleasure of meeting and connecting with other moms who are doing the same. Many of them were also spurred on by the call to action from ICHE & HSLDA.
The largest gathering that I’ve organized so far, was with State Senator Seth Lewis, State Representative Amy Grant, and State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro. I pulled together almost 100 homeschool moms, dads and kids, but I didn’t do it alone. With the help of moms both in and outside of my own homeschool community, they shared my field trip flier, and helped me get the word out. It’s truly been a group effort.
For December, I also created a Christmas card campaign. I asked local home educators to send Christmas cards to their legislators, as well as some local representatives who sit on education-based house committees. These cards included notes of gratitude for voting in favor of preserving our homeschool freedoms, as well as notes about what they love about homeschooling. When we’ve gone to meet with legislators, they’ve also been given cards, and were thrilled to receive them.
An amazing part of all of this has been meeting moms throughout the wider home school community. It encourages me to know that so many of us are engaged, and paying attention to the fragility of the freedoms that we hold.
It’s also been a lesson in the importance of getting to know our lawmakers, as well as understanding the process of how our laws are made. Through this, I’ve had the opportunity to reach across the aisle to talk with legislators who I do not politically align with. With each encounter, I’ve been surprised and encouraged. Especially due to the politically polarizing culture that we live in. I’ve seen firsthand that in-person meetings, approached with grace and respect, have a way of breaking down barriers. This causes us to see one another’s humanity. My hope then, is that when malicious articles or outrageous model bills about homeschooling make it into the hands of legislators, these encounters will shine brightly in their minds, outweighing any old, negative opinions.
While there are of course exceptions, I believe that in many cases, the person behind the legislative title is someone who cares about the people in their districts. I also believe that many of them strive to be as bipartisan as possible when it comes to the concerns and needs of their constituents. In my interactions with them, no matter their party line, they’ve also been pretty open to learning and growing in their understanding of home education.
A pleasant in-person greeting, a heartfelt letter, and a cherry pie, really do go a long way on Capitol Hill. Though, it starts first in our families, then by reaching out within our communities.
At the end of the day, I hope I’ve modeled well for my kids that when our rights are being threatened, we can’t bury our head in the sand. We must stand up for what we believe in. We must do what we can to protect and preserve what those who have gone before us, have fought so hard to pass down to the next generation.
My family has absolutely benefited from the freedoms of home educating in Illinois, thanks to those who stood up before me, and I won’t take it for granted. Nor will I take for granted God’s rich mercy in allowing such freedoms. I hope my children won’t either, should they too be handed down the same freedoms we enjoy now, God willing.
Most importantly, I hope I’ve shown my kids that in every situation, we are to put our faith in God, not in our circumstances. Though circumstances change, God is always faithful. When we trust Him instead of fearing, He strengthens us for that which He calls us to.
For my family, and my homeschool, trusting Him is the only choice. I can rest easy in knowing that He will be with us every step of the way, and He’s with you too. Surely, we are not alone.
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