Life never stays the same. Things are always changing
and they should. However, we’re not always prepared
for those changes, and sometimes they send us for a loop.

Many years ago, my husband and I attended Greg Harris’
Seasons of Life Seminar. I always learned so much from any
of Greg’s teaching seminars.

This seminar taught about the different stages of life and
how many times we don’t realize that our stage or season
has changed so we’re stuck in a rut.

And other times, we put ourselves in a stage where we don’t
yet belong such as looking for places to minister to others on
almost a full time basis when we have our own children at
home. If you have children, they are your ministry. It doesn’t matter
if they are little ones or older kiddos, they need you.
Ouch, I’m sorry if I stepped on some toes?

Can your family minister to others? Yes, absolutely. That’s a wonderful way
to teach how to reach out to others beyond ourselves. But as a family, not
you ministering to others at the expense of your own family.

I got an email from a dear friend the other day and want to share
part of it with you. This is from Rhea Perry of Educating For Success.
Rhea is a mom of 7, a business woman and has recently been widowed, so she
knows only too well, the changing of the seasons of life. Her dear husband, Wendell,
passed into glory last year.

Have her seasons of life changed? Absolutely.

Here’s what she had to say.

As I watched the glorious 9/11 tributes,
I was moved by five things:

1. For one day, the citizens of America put their
differences of opinion aside and stood together as
one. Being attacked by an enemy tends to gather
the troops like nothing else can.

2. In America, we have no idea how much freedom
we have compared to the rest of the world, even though
it is being attacked internally by our own leaders.

3. The true enemy is the devil which has deceived the
entire world into thinking people who are “not like us”
are the enemy. Instead of fighting him, we fight each other.

4. In times of tragedy, God provides for you through
complete strangers.

5. You never know when this day you are living will
suddenly be your last.

About 16 years ago, my dear husband Wendell and I
decided to have a life instead of just existing.

We had gone to college and done what we thought would
give us the American dream only to find ourselves in a
rut – a grave with the ends kicked out.

So we made a decision to embark on a journey that
would give us the life we really wanted to live.

We left our small house on two acres on a corner lot in town
for a 3600 square foot log home on 44 acres of woods, streams
large open pastures and plenty of fresh country air.

Our seven children had all the space they needed to play,
explore and conduct projects of all kinds.

We built a library large enough to house as many books,
audios and videos as we all wanted.

Since then, some of the children have married, had children
and pursued various careers. Some are still at home.

But all still love the farm.

At my husband’s funeral last year, one of our friends
told me, “You are the richest woman I know.”

At first I said, “You don’t get out much, do you”?

Then I said, “Why”?

He replied, “You have seven children who love you.”

When I looked at my children who had just lost the dad
they loved so much, and realized how wonderful each
of them is in their own way, I agreed with him.

“Yes I am,” I told him.

But there was a time when that might not have been true.

If we hadn’t made that decision 16 years ago, I think the
outcome would be different. There was a time when I did
not focus on winning the hearts of my children.

I assumed because we were “good people” and were dedicated
to God that our children would assimilate what they needed…

After all, that’s what I saw other parents doing. It must be okay.

But the Lord spoke to us so we made the move and changed
our lives.

Today, I am thrilled that we did because I love having a real
relationship with my grown children and my wonderful grandchildren.

What’s the use of homeschooling your children all their lives if
you lose their hearts in the process?

Rhea went on to share the formation that led to the decision they made that
changed their life.

At Educating For Success, you can learn how her family went from simply existing… to really living and enjoying life.

If you are a member of her online community, you can talk to Rhea and other
families like yours who want a better direction for their families.

Click here for EducatingforSuccess.com. I’ve been a member of this community of families, for a long time.

If you are not a member, it only costs $1 to join for the
first month. The second month is just $19.97 and you can
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