Author: Mollie T. Cox

Decisions, Homeschooling, Parenting

Following Other Families

September 6th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.

Henri Nouwen

I thought the perfect families and homeschoolers showcased in magazines and at conventions could show me the way. It turned out they could only give me a picture of the destination because they had never been in my parenting and homeschooling desert.

I don’t regret what I read and attended. I do regret not realizing the journey presented could not be replicated. There were many reasons. The advice-giving parents were from a different generation. They had different challenges and resources. Others had not finished their journey and so they only thought they knew the way.

As the school year geared up, and the challenges abounded, my peers and I rarely had people who could lead us. We stumbled around together and eventually made it.

Almost twenty years have passed since my sons graduated. The desert has changed during that time. As your school year progresses, may you have people to lead you and the wisdom to know who they are.

Thank you, Marie Hannah, for surviving the desert and returning to guide others.

Priorities

What Do I Really Need?

August 30th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Sometimes I know what I really want (see here). What I wish I had known was what I really needed. Along the way—as in over the summer—I learned that activities I considered selfish wants were important needs.

Spring and Summer events stripped me of all of the following for significant stretches of time.

Bicycling

Conversations with friends

Library visits

My flowers / yard / woods

Reading for enjoyment (actually almost all reading)

Solitude

Swimming

Time with my sons

Walks

Worship with other believers

Each loss took a different toll on my mental and physical health. Combined, it was too much for too long.

What have my husband and I learned? Another’s crisis must be at an extreme level before we travel on a Sunday and miss Worship. Caring for our mental and physical health takes many forms. All aspects of good health are a need—not a want—and must be prioritized.

Are you learning your needs?

Decisions, God's Faithfulness

Appreciating God’s Immutability

August 23rd, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Allow disillusionment with man to turn you to the love and faithfulness of God.

James Boice, Come To the Waters

I recently experienced the truth of Boice’s words when someone’s vacillating during the summer led me to a new appreciation of God’s unchangeable character, standards, and expectations.

Serving someone whose mind changed daily—or within a day—was frustrating and trust-breaking. With God, I will never be told

Did I say that? I forgot. It’s not what I wanted you to do today.

I didn’t say that. I said a variation of that.

That was what I wanted, but the children don’t like my rule so you should have disregarded it.

I’m too tired to enforce my standards.

Okay, the last was not said aloud but inferred.

I learned about God’s immutability over half a century ago. but now it is deeper in my heart. I’ve depended on God never changing his mind with regard to his eternal promises. Now I understand deeply the value of God not changing for a single second.

For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

Family, Stories I Share

The Blessing of Unity

August 16th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

When my Uncle Floyd passed in 2020, I received the chance to make new memories with my brother. We spent more time together than we had since he drove me to graduate school in 1978.

Due to Covid-19, my brother and I were the only family members at the funeral. Aside from a model train set, we were also the only heirs. As we went through Uncle Floyd’s possessions, we shared memories, perspectives, and generosity.

My brother identified my grandfather’s sacred M&M dish. (My grandfather never shared.) My brother admitted he snuck them. “The clank of that lid was loud,” he said. Law-abiding Mollie was shocked.

We laughed over an 18-inch Santa in a sealed box. “I guess one night Uncle Floyd turned on QVC and thought, ‘Perhaps I should order that Santa,’” my brother said.

I treasured our unity. He took the Santa. I took the M&Ms dish. He transported my choices that I couldn’t take on the plane—cast-iron skillets, handmade quilts, and my Aunt Margie’s 1928 toddler’s chair. We agreed on items to give to give non-heirs. We didn’t argue over anything.

Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Psalm 133:1(ESV)

Relationships

Secret Sorrows

August 9th, 2025
Mollie T. Cox

Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow’s words reminded me of a member of our church, whom I barely knew. She gave me the cold stare whenever she passed. What had I done? I didn’t dare ask.

Eventually, we were in the same Bible study. She was cordial, but there was no warmth. One Sunday, I decided to probe. Had I offended her? No. She was surprised by my question, and yet not. Another church member had recently asked the same question.

She wondered,

What does my face show if people think I am mad at them?

Longfellow’s words also reminded me of something my brother told me when he entered high school the Fall after I graduated. Someone said,

Oh, you’re the brother of that unfriendly girl.

Back then, I was shocked. I had friends, but I wanted more. Perhaps, my shyness was misinterpreted? Now, I think it was my sadness. I had too many responsibilities and concerns with little support during my high school years.

Perhaps you know someone who is sad?