By Michelle Collomy
What an exciting time to be alive! As the world seems to grow darker with every story told on the evening news, the Light of Christ gets brighter. Many places in the Bible reference "a remnant" of people who have remained faithful to the Lord.
When the modern homeschool movement began to ignite across our state and our nation back in the 1970s and ‘80s, people from all walks of life came together for the common idea that parents could actually direct the education of their own children. Many homeschool pioneers and advocates have come and gone through the years. Parents successfully educated their children at home and moved on. Some left a legacy in their own families and communities that lives on today, giving others the confidence to embrace this way of life.
But HOME went a little deeper. HOME heard the calling to be a beacon of light to all those who would find this path. They recognized that their purpose must be deeply rooted in Christ if it were to become something that would last and bear fruit. They partnered with HSLDA and began to fight the good fight on behalf of Maine parents who wanted to homeschool their own children. There were many battles and many who opposed the idea of parents directing the education of their own children. Opposition remains and there are currently new battles to fight.
HOME continues to read every piece of concerning legislation and encourage families in their homeschool journey. Kathy Green continues to answer the phone at the HOME office, faithfully, about every 7 minutes. Thankfully, there are now regional representatives all around our state to help answer questions through emails and phone calls.
Things seemed to be "smooth sailing" in Maine for a number of years. Homeschooling was becoming more widely accepted and popular.
In 2020, the world panicked as a pandemic broke out. Just as HOME was preparing for its Annual Convention, the government called for a "two week" shut down. Public gatherings were banned, and our convention was canceled. Suddenly, the whole state was schooling their children at home. Many parents decided that it was a good time to start homeschooling. In fact, the number of homeschoolers in the State of Maine doubled!!
Homeschoolers of Maine was ready! They had decided, many years prior, that they would be there for every family that needed help in getting started. They had built a statewide organization of volunteers and a homeschool website that is one of the best in the country. They had grown a deep root system over the years and when a great storm came, HOME was ready to weather the storm and shelter Maine families looking for help. The deep roots of an entire vineyard that had been planted, little by little, over the years, was now ripe and ready to harvest as our state and nation (and the whole world) faced a crisis that the government could not fix for individual families.
People were on their own, and just as HOME always had, families began helping families. During that time, I remember delivering chapter books to other families. Libraries were closed, children were home, and I recognized that I could share the home library we had built up over our many years of homeschooling. “Families Helping Families” is HOME’s mission and is a biblical principle. The world continues to move us to be more isolated, separated from other people. But we are built up, encouraged and strengthened when we embrace a community of other believers.
Although HOME continued to have an annual gathering after the pandemic, it was not the same get-away type experience as in the previous 30 years at convention centers. Next year, HOME will be "returning to our roots" by hosting the annual convention back at a beloved location, the Samoset Resort. This will allow families, couples, and mom-friends to retreat to a relaxing get-away to connect with other families, invest in their homeschool, learn and grow together and get recharged for the year ahead.
As we prepare for this huge event, HOME leaders are focusing on being rooted in Christ: "Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with THANKSGIVING." (Colossians 2:7)
How will we abound in it with Thanksgiving? I have personally been reflecting on what I am thankful for. I'm thankful for my 12 children and 15 grandchildren. I am down to homeschooling our last 2 teens. Thankful for many years of God's faithfulness in our family. He saw us through every year. We thrived through good times and bad! We homeschooled through pregnancies, new babies, active toddlers, miscarriage, deaths in the family, adoption, sickness, my husband’s heart attacks, my son's broken neck, weddings and welcoming new in-laws and grandchildren. It's been a big, crazy life.
Through all of that, HOME and the friends we have made through HOME, have carried us through. We always knew we had support and prayers. As we were building our family tree, HOME was building their roots deeply in the "living waters" of Christ. While we were busy raising our kids, we knew HOME would alert us when we needed to pay attention to threats to our homeschooling so that we could own our part in keeping this freedom. We leaned heavily on HOME as the watchmen on the wall.
I have recently been meditating on Psalm 1, chapter 1. The entire chapter imparts wisdom as to how we should walk out our lives in the way of the Lord. Consider reading it for yourself today. But I will end by sharing Psalm 1:6, " For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish." God has established a remnant of his people. He knows the plans he has for your children. There are things that will stand for all of eternity and things that will perish. As we thank God for all that He has done, let us be careful to invest in the things of His Kingdom that will last forever.
Michelle Collomy is a veteran homeschool mom of 12 and a HOME Regional Representative.