“Hey, Lunch Lady, can I have another slice of pizza?”
So said my son last Friday around noon. It’s only in hindsight that I can laugh about it. In the moment, my emotions were otherwise occupied with thoughts of escape, retreat, and getting out of Dodge while there was still some gas left in my tank. Being his lunch lady is just one of the many new labels I’m wearing around my house. Teacher, principal, janitor, and bathroom monitor are a few others. Yes, we’re homeschooling this year . . . a 6th grader and a 5th grader.
It’s hard, but it’s right.
How do I know? I just know. I knew it the moment we began. It took us a long time to arrive at this decision, but after a few years of educational frustration, it was time to make a change. Sometimes you just know when a change is needed. Sometimes you take a large leap away from what’s reasonable . . . what’s comfortable because of that knowing.
It’s good to have that kind of information stored away as an anchor—the assurance that the hard decision is the right decision. I’ve not always had that certainty when it comes to making decisions. Sometimes it’s a 51/49 process. Fifty-one percent says “yes”; forty-nine a “no.” Sometimes I just have to go with that extra two percent, believing that God goes with me and will make up the difference. I’m glad that’s not the case here.
God has this year in his hands. His reach is generous. It’s going to be hard, but it’s already very, very right.
Right isn’t always easily defined. But as we stick close to Jesus . . . lean in to him, rely on him, expect from him . . . he is faithful to provide us with an ample supply of strength, courage, and direction for the path we’re traveling. With such grace, we’ll find that what is right is also good, even when it feels so very hard.
Being a lunch lady will bring many changes to my life, of this I am certain. I don’t know the ebb and flow of it all just yet. I do know it’s requiring far more of me than I anticipated on the front side of my decision. I’m having to let go of a few good things in order take hold of this better one.
But I’m ready to try, and really, in the end, isn’t this most of the struggle—garnering enough personal willingness to try and do the hard thing? To just step on, step forward, and walk the line of what’s right? Those steps might be fraught with difficulty, hardship at a whole new level, and surrender at the deepest of levels, but when they’re the right steps, the struggle will be worth the gain.
This I believe to be true. This is how I will live my year as lunch lady, with struggle and with faith. And most wonderfully, with two young hearts who first called to me from their cribs and who, now, call to me from the lunchroom. This is going to be a wild ride, friends! Thanks for coming along with us. As always . . .
Peace for the journey,
Elaine,
What a blessing it is to be reminded that it’s always right to do right even if it’s the hard thing to do! I got a new Speaker’s Sourcebook of illustrations the other day at a thrift store and I have loved reading quotes in it. Here’s one for you today:
“Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Thank wrong, ‘tho easy, where the end is woe.”
~~ John Bunyan (Pilgrim’s Progress, Part 1) ~~
God bless you my faithful friend!
Marilyn
Thanks for stopping by, Marilyn. I think this post goes along with what your wrote today. The fact that you sat down to write gave me the inspiration to do the same! I love having you in my life.
And as it seems we are on the same theme, albeit a different subject matter, I believe I’ll link your post to mine again.
Surrendering so we might realize the sufficiency of His Grace – often hard…always right.
I read yours earlier today! So wonderfully written and lived, Melanie. Yes, please put these in a book for Audra and for us! Thanks for linking up. Marilyn’s post also spoke about this today. All different stories, all with a similar thread. I was just thinking (while in the tub) about how God must move so many of our hearts at a similar pace . . . like he’s trying to say something with an exclamation point. I sure hope the world is listening!
This brings a huge grin to my face! I can just picture a hat rack adjacent to your School Marm’s desk, filled with the assorted accoutrements your new lifestyle requires. I also applaud you.
It’s an entirely different journey, but I remember when we decided to leave Arizona & return to WA State. Many people thought we were nuts but, like you, I knew it was the right thing to do. It’s had interesting twists, but I’ve never regretted it.
What a gift you’re giving your children. There will come a day when they will talk long & often about their youth, and the amazing Mom that was also their Tutor. It’s probably a day you’ll look back upon with equal fondness.
You go girl!
What I really need is a whistle. My throat can’t handle much more! Yes, maybe one day they’ll get a good laugh out of our time here; maybe much more like you and sister had this past week. I hope to give them some good memories.
[…] friend, Elaine Olsen, has written on a different subject but along the same theme of surrender, grace and doing the […]
Well I find myself wearing very similar shoes as you, but with a different hat these days. I had no doubt what the “right” thing to do was, but it is A LOT harder than I thought it would be, and I found myself reluctant to take the walk at all. How grateful I am that He is faithful.
I think if I was raising kids still, I too would jump into the homeschooling world. I just know you will do wonderfully. Enjoy every minute of it!
Elaine, so funny that your son yelled “Hey, lunch lady” at you 🙂 May God strengthen you for your new task this year. Some great memories ahead, I’m sure. By the way, I have a giveaway going on that could help with your homeschooling — a B&N gift card. Come throw your name in the hat if you can find a minute between slinging pizza and lesson plans 🙂 Blessings, friend!!
Signed up, Cheryl! I love B&N and have one close by. Everyone should head over to Cheryl’s to enter!!!
I love that feeling of knowing that you know that you know that you are exactly where Jesus expects you to be in a season of your life. God bless you, Elaine. You are doing a great work for the Kingdom….raising and educating two little soldiers of the Kingdom!
Dear Lunch Lady,
You’re dishing out FAR more than lunches (as you know in your heart of hearts). Only God knows the ultimate outcome of this–the God of all grace. Only God can supply what will be needed–the God of all grace. You’re not in this alone, you know! I’m SO proud of you. Hang on and don’t look back! ♥
No looking back on this one, Rebecca. Only forward. Today was a little rough, but I’m learning a ton. Not sure about the kids though;)!
Isa.. 42:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This was our devotion scripture @ our prayer shawl ministry this morning…He always likes to use them more than once in a day. (you should put on a hair net when you serve them lunch… 😉 hee hee (but…you’re food will be a LOT better than any school cafeteria, I know…better yet, you could have the kids change up helping you think up/prepare lunch (and count it toward their home ec points)
Prayers that His mightly hand will smooth the clay of homeschooling this week
Great idea, friend! I’ll have them make lunch one day soon. Where would we be without the grip of grace in our lives?!
omgoodness…”you’re” above…please correct it in reading it as ‘your’ … man, i ‘flunked’ today’s grammar quiz.
God is definitely walking beside you if you’ve taken on this challenge. Praise God and praise you, sweet lunch lady. What a job!
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Amen.
wifeforthejourney:
Homeschooling represents both a tremendous sacrifice made and an amazing gift given. As we move from our beloved relationship with one of our local Chrisian schools, to America’s original school system you are giving up the precious time you used to enjoy in the mornings by yourself. You are also giving our son and daughter the most expensive gift anyone can give – time. Just days into our school year, I’m already seeing the rewards of your gift in our son’s handwriting and memorization. Not everyone is cut out to be the Lunch Lady, but you make that hairnet look good!
Love you,
Billy
You always know what to say, my man. For the record, I don’t need much of a hairnet!
I too had to grin at the thought of you as the lunch lady. = ) Grateful for the certainty God has given you that (despite the bumps along the way), this is very right. Anxious to see how this journey unfolds and grateful to cheer you on, pray you up and learn from your example. I’d like to link this to my FB in the next couple of days, if you wouldn’t mind. Though journeys differ vastly, there is much truth and encouragement to be found in your words. Printing this paragraph and tacking it on my cubicle wall…
“Right isn’t always easily defined. But as we stick close to Jesus . . . lean in to him, rely on him, expect from him . . . he is faithful to provide us with an ample supply of strength, courage, and direction for the path we’re traveling. With such grace, we’ll find that what is right is also good, even when it feels so very hard.”
Thanks and love…
Tracy
Sure, share away! It blessed me to know that anything I write and live might be an encouragement to you. It weighs on me heavily, you know . . . this whole writing of words. I wish I had more time to flesh out my heart in words; maybe one day soon when my world slows down. Love you, my Cincinnati friend!
With Struggle and with Faith… excellent and it paints a picture within my spirit. Choosing to home school one or many children is truly taking responsibility for a greater measure of the outcome in our children. I think it is wonderful.
As a mother that worked outside the home during my daughter’s (age 23 now) full school life, I see things that could have been different if I had home schooled her. But God does give grace, and she is still an amazing young lady that just the sound of her name, makes me smile.
So to all those that can not or could not home school, be not distressed. God will cover your children and grace will fill in those places that you being the “lunch lady” did not have a chance to do.
We all rejoice with you on your decision. And I will take another piece of pizza too!
This is nothing but a privilege and blessing from God to be able to take this time with my kids in this season. Yes, it’s a struggle, but I’m ready for a change and for the holy shaping that will undoubtedly come to me because of time spent in the lunchroom! Thanks for checking in, Jane. You’re precious to me.