Pandora's Box

It seems like I have opened up a big can of worms in my head and my heart. The definition of a can of worms is "a complex, troublesome situation arising when a decision or action produces considerable subsequent problems." That sounds ominous.

We are considering putting our 2 youngest in public school. Believe it or not this idea was reborn after a sermon including this verse. 1 Timothy 6:17 - Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. The last part is what got to me. I am a firm believer that God gives us what we need. I have experienced it many times and in many big ways. But I have not considered that He could provide something in His richness for my enjoyment or for the enjoyment of my kids.

I have enjoyed homeschooling my kids tremendously but that feeling is gone mostly. I don't think they enjoy it either. They are lonely and bored. I keep trying to muster up some excitement for it again but it just won't come. I trust myself way too much here. I heard a pastor say this weekend, "I am not as sovereign as I think I am." Can I trust Him enough to do this for me? Yesterday the answer was yes. It seemed everybody I talked to had words of encouragement in such specific ways that I was blown away. Today the answer in not so clear. I have sat with one child in his fear of all these changes today. I have been told that they will be eaten alive in public schools. The boys have not liked decisions we have made about this. Also I went shopping with them and saw their concern about their clothes not being good enough. I am torn in two by all this.

The term Pandora's Box came to mind but I could only remember part of the story. So I looked it up on wikipedia. Here is part of what it said.

After Promethius' theft of the secret of fire, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to create the woman Pandora as part of the punishment for mankind. Pandora was given many seductive gifts from Aprodite, Hermes, Hera, Charies, and Horae. For fear of additional reprisals, Prometheus warned his brother Epimetheus not to accept any gifts from Zeus, but Epimetheus did not listen, and married Pandora. Pandora had been given a large jar and instruction by Zeus to keep it closed, but she had also been given the gift of curiosity, and ultimately opened it. When she opened it, all of the evils, ills, diseases, and burdensome labor that mankind had not known previously, escaped from the jar, but it is said, that at the very bottom of her box, there lay hope.

Isn't it interesting that her curiosity is considered a gift, yet it unleashed many unpleasant things in the world. But ultimately it led to hope. That is what I need is hope, not in a myth but a God who gives generously good things.