Issue 16 - February, 1999
by Diana Waring
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Beyond Survival Things We Wish We'd Known Ancient Civilizations and the Bible Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries World Empires, World Missions, World Wars History Tapes Encouragement Tapes Music Newsletter Web Column Laughing Corner Online Catalog Place An Order! Monthly Special New & Upcoming Meet the Warings Schedule Message Board Site Map What's New? Search Site Web Links HOME

Dear Friends, On Tuesday, December 1, someone called me from church: "Diana... We lost Dennis." Stunned silence. Shock. Grief, welling up as a crushing tidal wave. Our friend was forty-nine years old. His wife and he were to have joined us for dinner on Sunday after church, but they had canceled. "No problem, weÕll try it again soon." And then, two days later, there was no more opportunity to try. Dennis died of a heart attack. There was no warning, no one even had the chance to say, "Goodbye. " As family and friends gathered together at the funeral home for a prayer and sharing time, stories of Dennis' life began to flow as a spring river laden with melting snow. The laughter, the love, the caring, the commitment to family were related by one after another. The time spent with his children and his wife, the obvious joy they had had together, and the way he had lived out the Christian life spoke clearly to each of us of the priorities of Dennis' life. His funeral was powerful. More than six hundred people - mostly cowboys - crowded into our little church (Dennis had been a long time rodeo athlete and rancher). They heard the dedicated desire and purpose of Dennis' life: to be a witness of Jesus Christ. They were confronted with their own mortality and encouraged to consider eternity. All of this made a deep impression on me. In light of eternity, am I doing what is really important? Are my priorities what they would be if I knew I was going to die tomorrow or next month? Sue is another friend of mine who must ask herself that question daily. Last summer, I was told that my homeschooling friend, Sue, was diagnosed with cancer. She had just had surgery, and I went to see her. Knowing that everything in her life had gone topsy-turvy, I asked how she was doing inside. "Well, Diana, this has helped me concentrate on the time I have left with my husband and two precious children." Recently, Sue's doctors told her that she probably has very little time to live. When questioned about how she was dealing with that, Sue answered, "I am so thankful that this sickness has given me the opportunity to really focus each day on loving my family... We are making a point of doing special things together." (These special things don't require a lot of effort because Sue doesn't have much energy, but they certainly count with her family.) Though watching her body grow weaker and weaker is wrenchingly hard, watching her make choices to love her husband and her two children - to really communicate with them how precious they are and how much she loves them - has been a profound inspiration. To hear about their tea parties, and their special meals, and their moments of cuddling together... to learn about the special journals she is writing to each one, day by day, so that they will always have something tangible of a wife and mother's love to hold on to. Friday evening, Sue was able to talk with me for more than an hour about what God is teaching her through this experience. I asked her permission to share with you what she expressed to me. She said, "What I am telling the mothers in my church is to focus on their families; to recognize that pouring our lives into our children is our highest calling. Do we take time to make precious memories with our families? Do we make sure that each one in the family knows that they are loved beyond measure? Do we leave an impression of a frantic, hurried, hassled mom-with-no-time, OR do we spend extravagant time with our children and husband?" Sue is so aware that God is refining her daily, as she has to give over control of her life to Him in a manner way beyond the normal experience. She has learned what it means to be an "encourager" - one who gives courage to another. No longer trying to play "Holy Spirit" to her husband and children, Sue is seeking to build each one up in love for their daily tasks. She is living transparently before her children and husband - sharing with them the struggles and the victories the Lord is giving her over those struggles. In all of this, her greatest desire is that they know the goodness of the Lord, the joy of being in Christ, and the love that God poured out on the Cross for them. Pouring out her life and her love for the Lord into the receptacle of her children, this is a real look at Deuteronomy chapter 6; this is laying down your life for a friend; this is homeschooling, friends. After our conversation, it felt as if I had just spent time with one of the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. What encouragement, what a refining process Sue shared. All of this is making a deep impression on me. In light of eternity, am I doing what is really important? I need to fulfill my ambitions and make the most of my energy for important tasks while I am able. We have already faced the question of whether we will serve God or money; already determined to homeschool; already launched out into well-chosen projects, plans and ministries. However, are my priorities what they would be if I knew I was going to die tomorrow or next month? As we busy ourselves with the daily routine of living and homeschooling, as we pick up the living room for the thousandth time, as we cook yet another meal of macaroni and cheese, as we scour the library for an elusive resource book... As we pull our hair, then bow in prayer over how to raise our children, as our absent-minded professors leave the milk sitting on the counter, as emerging sibling rivalries threaten to derail a family outing, as boundaries of behavior are tested - just to make sure... As we struggle to balance our limited finances, as we seek to build relationships in the Body of Christ, as we serve those around us - our "neighbors", as we tell our children, "Follow me as I follow Christ"... Are we thankful in everything? 1 Thessalonians 5... Are we kind and loving? Proverbs 31... Are we praying diligently and specifically for our family? Are we making space in our time for each precious one? Believe me, this is not intended to add to your ongoing pressures in homeschooling your family, or to induce guilt in anyone. It is simply a reminder to stop and take an eternal look at what we are doing day by day. Sometimes, unintentionally, we give our energy to good but not best activities. Sometimes, wanting to supply all that we can for our children, we pursue projects that misdirect our attention from our children. Remember, when our priorities are right, everything else falls into place. And may we, on the day that He calls us home, hear the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Blessings, Diana P.S. If you would like to receive our new 1999 catalog through the mail, please send an e-mail with your snail mail address. The catalogs will be mailed at the beginning of April. Thanks! P.P.S. FEBRUARY SPECIAL - From now till the end of the month, when you spend $39.90 or more at Diana Waring-History Alive!, you may purchase either Beyond Survival: A Guide To Abundant Homeschooling OR Things We Wish We'd Known for $1... One Dollar... $1.00.... (That's a savings of $11.99!) Our MARCH SPECIAl will highlight our three brand new audio tapes: Heroes of the Faith (90 minute audio cassette) "Stories of people throughout history who have much to teach us as homeschooling parents in our day-to-day existence. Stories of courage, of faith, of trust, of obedience, of perseverance, of joy in the midst of circumstances... •Do you have everything you need to homeschool your children? Meet George Mueller, the man who fed, clothed and taught 2,000 orphans a day... through prayer and seeing God's answer. •Do you ever sing the "house bound mommy blues"? Meet Amy Carmichael, the woman who became Mommy to dozens and hundreds of Indian children she rescued from the temples in India... •Do you ever have well-meaning family members or friends challenge you about your decision to homeschool? Meet Eric Liddell, the man who wouldn't run his race in the Olympics because it was on a Sunday - despite the pressure of the world. •Do you ever feel unqualified to homeschool your children, without enough education in your background? Meet Gladys Aylward, the woman who, though she flunked out of missionary school, went to China on her own, and became one of the most effective missionaries in the history of China. This homeschooling workshop is a time of great encouragement and strengthening for the work before us." True Tales from the Times of Ancient Civilizations and the Bible (90 minute audio cassette) "At last! - More fascinating stories from history, told by the "History Lady", Diana Waring. Learn about: •Austen Layard, the British adventurer who uncovered the ancient city of Ninevah in a true tale more improbable than an Indiana Jones movie; •Heinrich Schliemann, who discovered the legendary Troy because he believed the Iliad was true history - and it helped him locate the city... And much, much more!" True Tales from the Times of Romans, Reformers, Revolutionaries (90 minute audio cassette) "At last! - More fascinating stories from history, told by the "History Lady", Diana Waring. Learn about: •Columba, the Irish monk who confronted the druids of Scotland - and won; •The Byzantine emperor, Justinian, who accomplished such marvels in his reign that the world is still astonished; •The "truce of God", which gave warring knights of the Middle Ages their guaranteed days off; •The incredible cities of the Moslem empire at the time Europe was still in huts... And much, much more!" The regular retail price of each of these tapes will be $8.95. However, during the month of March, you can order one for $7, two for $13, or all three for $18! Return to the List of Newsletter Issues

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