Godly Friendships

16 Years of a Beautiful Thing Comes to a Screeching Halt.

This story has two parts and both involve godly friendships. This is part one.

Change can be Difficult.

Have you ever had one of those days? Or one of those weeks? That’s me…right now…but I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel…

Thanks to some godly friends who were sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and came to my rescue. (but that’s for part two of this post).

You know, I feel so silly…idiotic, really. What I’m about to share with you is sooooo small in the big scheme of life, yet it has moved me to feelings of sinking with my head bobbing up and down, gasping for air, with my hands flailing as I struggle to keep afloat. So, today, I’m just wanting to be transparent with you… you know, keepin’  it real. That’s important in building deeper friendships.

And that’s exactly what this story is about. One woman (me) doing things comfortably for 16 years, when BOOM! God says, “Put comfort behind thee. I’m shaking things up. You’re in a new and different season. I’m at work. Trust me. But, hold on…”  (That’s my interpretation of what was said…and that’s exactly what’s happened.)

A Glimpse of Godly Friendships.

My family has been involved in the same homeschool co-op for sixteen years. Sure, families have come and gone, and friendships have changed over these years, but there was consistency.

The like-mindedness of the moms, the love for Christ, focus on the teaching to the heart of our kids, priority of addressing character while still having a rigorous academic program were just some of the common threads. Seeing needs and learning to come alongside each other, growing together as we all learned to help each other. Learning to receive help from others. (We discovered this is reeeealllly hard for many women.)

Life-changing lessons were learned as we did life together. There was  implementation of unity, “community,” and fruits of a life lived for Christ by each woman taking any differences to the Lord first (and only), asking Him, “Lord,  search my heart. Lord, change me. Lord, show me the perspective through the other person’s eyes. Lord, how can I lighten her load?”  I know that’s rare – but, according to the Bible, that’s the evidence of Christ at work in us. It’s how all Christian women should operate.  That’s our co-op. Unity throughout all these years.

Truly, Legacy co-op was a significant place that God did a lot of work in my heart.  He changed me. He grew me. I know all the other women in co-op would agree to this shaping and refining and stretching. Such a beautiful thing! And, I believe wholeheartedly that our kids witnessed and experienced a rare treasure…a priceless, beautiful gem really. Community. Hearts aligned with each other. Growing and learning together.

Legacy moms gathering together to say thank you to the family whose home was opened each Tuesday for, at one point, 75 people.

Beautiful friendships where we just pick up where we left off. This is at my daughter’s graduation party.

Our kids grew up with a sweet group of families, doing school once a week together, being taught by godly, praying women whom I loved having an impact and influence on my children.

This is from the early years. This is our first group of middle and high school students. These alumni are now in their mid-twenties.

Classes met in rooms all over their home: on the back porch, over the garage, dining room, bedrooms, and even in a little play house in the backyard. This home we all grew to LOVE!!

Critical Thinking for the youngest ones. These three are now in 8th, 9th, and 10th grades.

These Legacy alumni still keep in touch. Oh! Such memories!

Legacy alumnae attend each other’s bridal and baby showers. (and even make cupcakes for them)

Our oldest four are now Legacy co-op alumni and went on to do well in college. It’s been a fabulous place to receive a great education.

(Did you notice the proper usages of alumni, alumnus, alumnae, and alumna. Uh…until this post, I thought “alumni” universally represented all college graduates).

Now, with just an 8th and a 10th grader remaining under our roof, why at this stage of the game – would we change what has worked so beautifully?

Marine Biology and dissecting octopi. I would have never done this on my own. Another benefit of a co-op.

Heather’s presentation from an assignment from Mystery of History. (That’s a great book!)

What a blessing when a teacher teaches something she loves and is gifted at. Thanks, Brenda.

A Change After 16 Years of a Beautiful Thing.

Such an amazing set up, right?

Imagine my surprise this summer,  while praying and seeking God for the priorities for our school year, when He redirected my heart in ways that weren’t logical. Upset my routine? I think I misunderstood.

“This is going to be a new season of your life, Rhonda,” I thought I heard the Lord quietly say. I questioned Him, pondering. I had asked Him to reveal the hearts and needs of my girls and what the specific priorities would be for this school year. He had answered in a way far different than I had anticipated, shaking the infrastructure that served us well for, as I said…16 years.

This would involve bringing to an end my years of leading Legacy Co-op and include passing on the torch to a beautiful, younger mom named Carrie. (Did I mention that I was now the oldest mom…and by quite a few years. Good grief. Mama don’t Like.) This co-op has been the closest thing I’ve known to “true community.” It is a beautiful, safe place of mentoring. A weekly scheduled time of exposing our vulnerable hearts and having transparent discussions. And, furthermore, the co-op ran like a well-oiled machine.

Little did I know that part of this new season would involve rocking my world. I share part twohere.

Tomorrow is Titus 2 Tuesday, and I’ve invited my good friend Lisa to answer a reader’s question about Quiet Times.

What do “godly friendships” look like to you?

Rhonda canyoutellthatourco-opwas”community.”LovemesomeLegacy ellis