Chicks like me love buying new shoes. They are cute and perfect with that certain outfit. The only problem is breaking them in. I don’t care how much I pay for shoes, the cuter they are the more they must be “broken in” to be anything less than a torture tactic.

Funny how homeschooling can be like that. You have a new method you are trying out and it is just uncomfortable, bunching and squeezing and generally uncomfortable-making. This isn’t so bad, if you stick with it through the breaking in time.

Constantly changing plans and methods can be a lot like new shoes. Always trying some new thing new gets old. Nothing is comfy, familiar, certain. You are always chafing from the rub. You stumble because you aren’t used to them. They are a generic size so they don’t fit well.

If you never push past the breaking in you never get to the comfy stage, where your shoes have formed to the shape of your foot. They move from once-in-while-shoes to your “go to” shoes. They may not be the prettiest in your closet but they are your favorite because they feel so good. It’s like cosy sunshine for your feet.

This time of year it is tempting to make big changes, try new things. But the cost can be high to chuck your methods and always start something new. New is often not better, especially when kids are involved. They rely on the comfort of routine.

Homeschool shoes are not really made for outer beauty, but for use—to carry the Gospel, to help a friend in need, to lead the way for others. Vanity is a poor reason for choosing a shoe. We all have shoes in our closet that we just had to have but they were not meant for the “real world.” Either we wear them and smile through the pain or we never wear them. Either way they were a bad investment.

I encourage you to think twice about tossing out that pair of comfy shoes. I bet they have a lot of life left in them. Maybe they just need new soles or a little patch. Maybe a good shine is all they need to breathe new life into them. God has the perfect pair just for you. They will help you (and your children) run the race and finish with joy.