Tragedy in Ukraine
Five years ago, while Ray and I were participating in a homeschool convention in St. Louis, a smiling mother brought her graceful daughter over to me. Both mother and daughter glowed with a beauty from within. With her loving hand resting on her daughter, the mother introduced her to me, saying she wanted her to meet the author of her history curriculum, America the Beautiful. Listening to the beautiful accents of both of them, I asked if they were from Ukraine. That’s when I began to learn their wonderful story. I’ll call the mama Ionna.
Ionna’s father was persecuted in the Soviet Union because he was a Protestant Christian. Because her grandfather was a Baptist preacher, her father had not been allowed to go to college. While Ronald Reagan was serving as president of the United States, he increased the number of people who could leave the Soviet Union and come to the United States. Ionna’s parents applied. Just weeks after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the family was granted their request. Ionna’s parents then moved to America with their eight children, six daughters and two sons.
The entire family has remained in the United States. When I met Ionna and her daughter, Ionna’s two brothers were still single, one sister had married an American, and the other five girls, including Ionna, had married Ukrainians living in the U.S.
Ionna told me that she loves the history of America. I told her about hearing of other Ukrainians interested in homeschooling and of meeting a Ukrainian homeschooling family in North Carolina. I asked her why Ukrainians are drawn to homeschooling. She said it is because Ukrainian parents are concerned about their children’s hearts.
When Solomon instructed his son in Proverbs 4, he told him:
My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them
And health to all their body.
Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:20-23
Like you my heart is bleeding for the innocent Ukrainians who are suffering from this Russian invasion of their sovereign nation. A missionary that our church helps to support in Austria wrote Ray over the weekend, telling of Ukrainian refugees—mainly mothers and children—who are coming to a refugee camp in Austria. A homeschooling mother whose family were serving as missionaries in Ukraine called the Notgrass History office last week after fleeing the country and returning to America. Of course, each is a person whom God loves deeply.
When Ray thought about what to address in this week’s podcast, he decided to help listeners understand the history behind this current crisis, a history that goes back several centuries. His title is Tragedy in Ukraine. You can listen to Exploring History with Ray Notgrass on many podcast apps. You can also listen at podcast.notgrass.com. Join Ray today for Tragedy in Ukraine.
I join you in prayer for the people of Ukraine.
For this reason I bend my knees before the Father,Â
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name . . . .
Ephesians 3:14-15