A lot of our AABC families are schooling at home now. Although this can be a lot of fun, it can also be stressful and disheartening, especially when added to work, volunteering and other parenting responsibilities. I don’t know if you can relate, but Julia and I have had some really good days with the kids and some not so good days with the kids.

Sometimes there's laughing, sometimes there's yelling

The good days with the kids are filled with laughing, smiling, everybody playing well together, baking, etc. The not so good days with the kids are filled with yelling, crying, miscommunication, hurt, feet stomping, door slamming, etc. The bad days are understandable for a lot of reasons, but to name a few:

• We’ve never done school at home before.
• It’s a transition for our children who usually see us as parents to now see us as teachers as well. There’s a dynamic shift in roles, and everyone is still adjusting to it.
• My eldest has said, “School isn’t as fun anymore because I don’t get to see my friends.” Compassionately, I know it must be hard for him to see the same four people. Every. Single. Day.

We go to bed every night—exhausted

Like I said, we have both good days and bad days, but what’s really consistent as we’re 35 days into social distancing and four days into week four of school at home is that we're exhausted. In my nightly prayers, I’m often tear-filled because I feel like I have nothing left to give. It goes something like this: “Thank you, Lord, for a good day with my family, with TUFF and with AAABC.” And then I confess my sins, lately unrighteous anger and losing my temper with my kids.

I don’t think I can make it on my own

I usually end my prayers by thanking the Lord for His forgiveness in Jesus and ask Him for His grace to sanctify me more. After I pray, I watch Netflix or play video games for an hour, then I go to sleep. And in the morning, I think to myself, “I love my kids, but man, school at home is difficult. I’m not sure how I’m going to get through today with my sanity, let alone this morning. I don’t want to do this. This stinks. I don’t think I can make it on my own.”

And the Biblical truth is I can’t. I need God.

Even before the coronavirus pandemic and all its implications, I needed God. And especially during this season, I need God. This is a constant theme in the Bible for everyone: We need God.

I need God for strength to school at home, courage to do what is right, patience to love and to teach my kids right, and heavenly wisdom to balance work, home, family, school, etc. Here are some Bible verses that have helped me:

• “As for me, I am poor and needy, let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” –Psalm 40:17 
• “He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might, He increases strength.” –Isaiah 40:29
• “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” –Lamentations 3:22-23 

"Lord, I come, I confess. Bowing here I find my rest."

I really love the song, “Lord, I Need You,” by Matt Maher. The lyrics say:

“Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without you, I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart

"Lord, I need you, oh, I need you.
Every hour I need you.”

I also like the old-school hymn from the 1800s. The lyrics say:

“I need Thee every hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.

I need Thee, Oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior!
I come to Thee.”

The school at home days can be super exhausting and long. I need God. We all need God. May each of us run to Him today and forevermore. Today, I’m praising God for all our children because they are amazing. But I’m also praying for all the parents too <3