THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER
- Thoughts
For The Homeschool Mom -
This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to participate in a
“Parade of Nations” at a missions conference.
It was such a beautiful thing to take part in, and brought tears to my
eyes. I watched the various flags going
by after our own, and thought of all the people, from all the nations, one day
gathered around the Throne of God. I
watched our girls happily wearing costumes representing China, Canada, and
South Africa, and I thought about the possibility of them embarking upon their
own missions work in the years ahead. I
praised God that, from a very young age, they are getting a glimpse of the
THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER in this life.
The fact is, there are days on this deputation journey when
trying to homeschool on the road feels like a “lost cause”. Every day is different, and the routine just
isn’t there! It is easy to become
overwhelmed. But the Lord knows how to
encourage a weary mom!
Isaiah 54:13 “And all thy children shall be taught of the
LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”
A fellow educator recently asked me about the necessary
homeschooling paperwork for our state. When
I pulled up last year’s letter to the school board, it immediately blessed my
heart. It reminded me of the THINGS THAT
TRULY MATTER! I read the carefully thought-out phrases and the numerous Bible
verses I had cited, and I sat there with the laptop and just rejoiced! THIS – This is why we are doing what we are
doing! This is a task that we feel GOD has given to us! He knows the plans that
HE has for our children, and will continue to help us through every stage! Whether we are in America or overseas; in a house, or in a
hotel, or in a van.
As Christians, our
beliefs are based upon the Bible, and affect every aspect of our daily lives –
the words we say, the songs we sing, the books we read, the entertainment we
allow in our home, the ministries we become involved in, and the very way we
function as a family. We believe that our children should accompany us as we serve in ministry. These opportunities are vital examples in the training of our children. Our prayer is
that by homeschooling our children and raising them in a Christian home, we
can impart our beliefs to our children, and help them to grow in their own
personal walk with the Savior.
Joel 1:3 “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children
tell their children, and their children another generation.”
Homeschooling won’t look the same for our family as it does
for yours. That is the nature of
homeschooling! It is often as different
and unique as the individuals involved. Home education can also undergo a
variety of changes through the years – with the introduction of a newborn, the
move to a new house, the discovery of a learning disability, the potty training
of a toddler . . . The methods may alter a hundred times over. But when my children leave my home one day,
what will I want them to have learned? Have
you ever paused to consider that thought?
Deuteronomy 6:7 “And thou shalt teach them diligently unto
thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when
thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
I Pray My Girls Will Have Learned -
To love the Lord their God.
To hide His Word in their hearts.
To share His Word with others. To
value life. To be thankful to their
Creator. To cherish the gift of salvation.
To appreciate their country’s history.
To be grateful for their country’s freedoms. To see individuals of every race as souls for
whom Christ died. To stand up for what
is right. To serve without being
noticed. To work as a team with
others. To finish a task once it has
been started. To respect God-given
authority. To read fluently. To know how to communicate thoughts and ideas
through the use of art, and music, and the written word. To use their talents and gifts for God. To give cheerfully to the Lord and to manage
their personal finances. To provide wholesome meals for their family. To possess a sense of curiosity and wonder,
as well as a keen imagination. To have
all the tools to pursue further education and training in any field to which
the Lord might one day call them.
This list could be ever so much longer.
How about your
own? You are your child’s mother as well
as their educator. Do you know WHY you
have taken this task upon you? Has God
laid certain things on your heart that you need to accomplish for Him? Your children are unique and special to
God! When you’re tempted to be
overwhelmed in your homeschooling endeavors, I encourage you to hold onto your
God-given goals. Not your own ambitions
or desires, but the priorities that HE helps you to set, each year as it comes.
Psalm 127:1 “Except the LORD build the house, they labour
in vain that build it . . .”
As you finish out the current grades and choose curriculum
for next year, I urge you to pray before purchasing. If a workbook or a video does not suit your
child’s particular needs, or your family’s personal goals, don’t use it next
year! Don’t feel confined to a curriculum.
Don’t compare your child to someone else’s.
Don’t seek to please anyone but the Lord. And don’t forget WHY you are doing what you
are doing! Our time with our children is
short! May we use it for the honor and glory of the Lord.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Many Blessings!
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