I Sent Out My Fleece

Stiffly dragging my feet and fighting back tears, I entered into the school.  Trying to stifle all of my anxious thoughts, my body tensed and my smile was forced.  Trying to act excited for Benjamin's new possibilities, I prayed silently, "Oh God please let me hear your voice.".  I sent out my fleece as we toured his charter public school environment. This transition would be the end of my 25 years of home educating my children.

Benjamin heard the violins as we passed the music classroom. He looked up with a grin, "I want to take violin lessons!".  The administrator explained that a parent volunteered to give violin lessons for the school. Benjamin looked excited. I smiled back.

"Here is our small 2nd grade class room.  We have two other full size 2nd grade classes, but this one will only have 11 or 12 students."  I whispered my fleece, "Lord,  if this is you, can he please have the small class room?"

"Lord, if this is you, may he take violin lessons?"

She cheerfully assured us of the school and all the teachers.  He would have to come back to be evaluated, since he had been home educated.  There weren't any words I could say to convince her that I had educated him well, as I had done with all my children.  They weren't sure about home schooling.

Benjamin talked on the way home with excited anticipation. I silently cried in my seat, my back turned to him so he couldn't see... my husband gently patting my arm.  This was going to stretch me and I continued to cry out to God.  Days later, Benjamin and I would both be in the car again, meaning he couldn't see my face, when he explained how he wanted to cry the day we took him to visit the school.  I reassured him that things would be okay.  I was stepping out in faith with my reassuring words.

My prayer through last summer was for a Godly teacher and success with his testing. The administrator's answer concerning his test, "We think he can do 2nd grade work."  My fleece was before the Lord and now I walked it out in faith.

He was one of only a handful of all the 2nd graders to win the Academic Excellence Award.  My home education had paid off and he wasn't at a disadvantage.

His class - 11 students and one awesome Christian teacher!

He excelled in violin, winning the highest awards.

The total confirmation came at the end of the full school year.  His violin teacher was also a Christian, as were the majority of teachers and administrators.  Many of the teachers were members of our church and they knew his older siblings.   I heard about his violin teacher's personal struggle and someone told me she was a singer, along with her two sisters.  I looked her up on YouTube and I listened to this song.  My soul rejoiced over the answered prayers for this first year.  There were some days that were very rocky...even to the point of wanting to pull him out. However, we persevered and the fruit was well worth it.  God was faithful, even had he not answered even one of my fleeces. He still is God... and I praise Him for answering this mother's heart's cry.