Blessed Are the Merciful, for They Will Be Shown Mercy

by Lee Magryta

Freelance Writer; 13-year Home Educator; Gentle Teaching Practitioner; Founder – Gentle Families

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”. Matthew 5:7

    As home educators each of us faces everyday challenges in unchartered ground. Within ourselves and amongst ourselves we dig deep to find the courage, resources, and fortitude to meet our everyday moments of self-doubt. For many of us, self-doubt is overcome through our faith sustaining us. For others of us, self-doubt is overcome when those of us with faith surround us. It seems unchartered ground and challenges are no match for Christian homeschoolers…but, is this entirely true for the most extraordinary and gifted families amongst us—those with special needs?

    Increasing numbers of home educating families face a host of special needs challenges—Autism, Asthma, Epilepsy, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Anaphylactic Allergies, Language impaired, Dyslexia, Blind, Mental disabilities, Learning Disabled, and Paralytic…the list goes on and on.

Parents of these special children often face indescribable self-doubt yet they dig even deeper to find the extra courage, resources, and fortitude needed to educate their children at home. Many of these extraordinary parents are well-educated doctors, lawyers, dentists, teachers, professionals, or loving parents who, perhaps at first, left their careers and embarked on home education reluctantly because their children were falling short of getting equal education opportunity and resources through their public or private education sector.

Many of these special children when brought home under the loving care of their resourceful parents have not only flourished but give their families, their communities, and their peers many gifts of the Holy Spirit—Wisdom, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Wonder and Awe in God’s Presence, Piety, and Understanding. These are the gifts, as Christians, we often reverently ask be given us. Yet, so many of us surrounded by our own everyday challenges in unchartered ground fear opening our hearts to many of these very gifted families.

Too often as home educators we close our doors, our hearts, our souls to the opportunities God gives us to receive His gifts to us through these special families. We close our support groups for fear of liability, fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of ourselves. How many of us have been part of a support group that instead of adopting a mindset of charity through a “can-do” and “win-win” attitude have turned away special needs families citing an inability to meet the family’s needs without compromising the rights of the others.

As Christians, do we believe we have rights and freedoms? Or, do we believe we have rights and freedoms that come with responsibility given us by God? So, what exactly is our responsibility to our fellow special needs families? Do we open ourselves and our support groups up to the gifts from those of who have become the experts at overcoming home education self-doubt through faithfulness? And, do we as good Christians surround them with our faithfulness in their times of self-doubt? Looking to the scriptures, many Christians have sought the answers and found inspiration to take a strong stance on completely and totally embracing their home educating peers with special needs.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7

The seven practices of charity toward our neighbor:

    Feed the hungry

    Give drink to the thirsty

    Clothe the naked

    Shelter the homeless

    Visit the sick

    Visit those in prison

    Bury the dead

Mt. 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’”

    True, as home schoolers none of us are beholden to meeting all the needs of each and every one who seeks us out or asks of us and our support groups. On the other hand, as Christian homeschoolers, if we indeed live as we profess, we are beholden to a life in Christ. So what might a life in Christ look like to the Samaritan in the gospel of Luke 10:25-37 where Jesus asks, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same”.

    As homeschoolers if we are to go and do the same, are we not beholden to offer to our neighbor all “the mercy”that is within our powers to offer? A fellow mom asks us for advice on a curriculum to use. We share our knowledge and experience joyfully and in friendship. Another fellow home schooling mom has a car that broke down and we quickly offer the entire family a ride to a home school event. And, how neighborly were our fellow homeschoolers following the birth of one or more of our children? Did we not receive meals, gifts, and tender support? But, are these measures the total fulfillment of the mercy within our powers to extend to our peers blessed with special needs children or, has Jesus commissioned us to a greater degree of mercy that we may not yet realize we too are capable of? In response, prayerfully answer one simple question—Do I believe that Christ will give me the grace to fulfill any act of mercy I am asked to give?

    Often fears of an unknown, experiences from a known, hardness of heart, or our own sufferings and challenges will cloud our abilities to answer this question in truth. Jesus understands our shortcomings and failings. He leads us through His grace to the fulfillment of what He asks of us through our neighbors with special needs. We are all called to be the Good Samaritan, through His grace, He will show us The Way. Pray for an open heart, a heart of compassion, a heart of mercy to our neighbor in need. Finally, ask yourself, “If Jesus himself came to me with this request for mercy to be shown Him, would I say no, or would I ask Him for the grace to do it?” Indeed, unchartered grounds and challenges are no match for Christian Home educators for in putting on a mind of Christ we can do all things in helping special needs families bear their burdens. In return, we are blessed.

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    Lee Magryta is a Christian home educating mother of four, a Gentle Teaching Practitioner, a founder of Gentle Families, a Conference Speaker, and a mentor to those dealing with special needs or everyday challenges.

Gentle Teaching

Gentle Teaching is based on the writing and work of internationally known John J. McGee. Gentle Teaching is the basis for learning and moral development. It is modeling and coaching in safe, respectful and nurturing environments that encourage feelings of companionship and safety in an ever expanding inclusive community. The goal of Gentle Teaching is to validate each individual’s humanity, offering an environment where the person can reach their fullest potential when they feel safe to participate, to learn, to share their talents, to utilize their strengths, to improve upon their weaknesses, and to build interdependence and solidarity with others. www.gentleteaching.com