Back in the homeschool classroom … the pain of grief

By Lynn R. Mitchell

[Originally published two years ago today on August 13, 2012.]

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplications, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.” –Philippians 4:5

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound….

Twenty-seven is too young to experience the painful, dark world of death while others continue the business of life.  And when cancer creeps in to claim a young life, it leaves those behind feeling empty with a hole in their hearts left by the absence of the one who is gone.

During our homeschool days, as my children grew older, a particular joy was to be involved in the lives of many home-educated students during my years as teen coordinator with the local homeschool organization. I grew close to dozens of young people who remain friends to this day, years after they’ve grown to adulthood and moved on into the world, some even beginning families of their own.

One of those was 27-year-old Hannah whose heart is breaking tonight at the loss of her best friend after death crept in today and took him away.  As it often does, the insidious, evil, life-draining disease known as cancer claimed another victim and, when it did, deeply wounded my sweet friend.

Her faith will pull her through as well as her family and friends but may not be able to completely comfort or understand the pain or totally ease the loss. The Bible verse above is from her Facebook page where dozens of friends have left condolences.

Because her heart hurts, my heart hurts, and I offer up a prayer that she finds peace and comfort to make it through the difficult days ahead. Such tragedy should not come this early in life and yet, sadly, for many it does. Hopefully, we can be there when we are needed….
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. — Psalm 48:14

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Lynn Mitchell educated her children at home for 16 years and was part of leadership in North Carolina’s Iredell County Home Educators (ICHE) and Virginia’s Parent Educators of Augusta County Homes (PEACH). Her son graduated from Harrisonburg’s James Madison University (JMU) in 2007 with a BS in Computer Science and a minor in Creative Writing. Her daughter graduated from Staunton’s Mary Baldwin College in 2012 with a BS in Sustainable Business and a minor in Marketing. Lynn and her husband live in Augusta County located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The story of how she began her homeschool journey can be found here (see Back in the homeschool classroom: Blazing new trails).

Other titles in the “Back in the homeschool classroom” series by Lynn R. Mitchell:
– Summer is almost over (August 2014)
– Grown son’s first home (April 2014)
– Support group vs Co-op (February 2014)
– Where it all began … blazing new trails (January 2013)
– Grown son’s first home (July 2013)
– Staying in touch with homeschool friends (July 2013)
– New Year’s Eve (December 2012)
– More sleep = homeschoolers happier, healthier than public school students? (April 2013)
– Using Shenandoah National Park as your classroom (March 2013)
– Autumn (October 2012)
– The rain rain rain came down down down (April 2012)
– Why we teach our own (April 2012)
– Casey (April 2012)
– The wedding … letting go (September 2012)
– The pain of grief (August 2012)
– When faced with a challenge … no whining (April 2012)
– The simple wisdom of Winnie the Pooh (August 2012)
– First day of school (September 2012)
– The rise of homeschooling (February 2012)
– Hot summer days (July 2011)
– Constitutional lessons and the Judicial branch of government (March 2012)
– Rainy days (May 2013)
– A chance encounter (June 2013)
– Mary Baldwin commencement 2012 … SWAC Daughter graduates with honors (May 2012)