Quiverfull in the Military
I recently received this question from someone who visited my blog. I will do my best to answer her questions.
I just stumbled upon your blog. My husband and I have 2 children, (with one on the way).
We fully embrace filling up our quiver, but I’m wondering as a military spouse how you deal with it.
My husband is considering rejoining the Air Force. He was in for 10 years and we’re both drawn to going in again. However I’m worried that we will have a harder time raising godly children with Daddy deploying so much.
We are homeschooling family and born again believers. I know this is probably a lot to ask, but maybe you could do a post or write me back on this topic. Our children are the most important thing and we want what is best for them. Thank you for your time.God Bless,
Julie
This is a hard question to answer because I want to actually give an answer. People often ask me how I “do it” in reference to many things in my life. I really do not know, I just do.
In the short time that we have been in the military we have been blessed to have my husband around more than some others. He thus far has only gone on one deployment. He has taken several TDY assignments that have ranged anywhere from 2-6 weeks long. When he has been gone, he has been able to call almost every night as well.
Here are a few things that I believe are important to maintain while hubby is away. You can still raise godly children even if you husband deployed often.
1. God is faithful and He is the one to work in the hearts of your children. He is the Father to the fatherless. When my hubby is away I often pray that He would be a father to my children and be even more evident to them when their earthly father is absent. Prayer is essential.
2. Do not forsake the gathering together of the saints. In other words, go to church. It is easy to fall into the temptation of just not getting out and going to church. Some days it seems it is more work than it is worth, especially on bad mornings trying to get out the door, with a little one crying the whole service, and you are wondering why you went because you missed everything the pastor said. It is still important to go. People will be there to pray for you and to minister to you. It also sets the example and lets your children know where you have placed your priorities (on worshipping the Savior).
3. Continue family devotions and Bible readings.
4. Continue to talk to your children about spiritual matters.
5. Pray with your children daily. Pray for their father, for you and them at home, and for spiritual growth for each member of the family.
6. Remember it is not all up to you, God is the one who will work in the hearts of your children. Just be faithful to do all that you can and trust in the Lord for the results.
Related posts:
- Our Quiverfull Jouney
- A Personal or Larger Calling
- Getting our Kids to Jesus Or Not……
- 31 Ways to Pray for Our Military
- Something to Ponder
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Tags: children, Christianity, Family, Military, Quiverfull Posted in Christianity, Family, Military, Quiverfull, Train Up a Child
June 28th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Great advice!
Another thing to consider is: for longer deployments (we’re Army, they’re usually a year long with some exceptions) is to find an older man/grandfather figure that can help mentor your boys.
All of my kids missed Daddy during our last deployment, but my son felt it the most. Surrounded by girls and one baby brother…he felt the lack of ‘manliness’
With my husband’s permission (very important!!) I allowed my son to spend regular time at his best friend’s house, where the father is a pastor. He was willing to romp with him as much as his own son, and those days made a world of difference.
A good church makes all the difference. Even if you end up in a ‘civilian’ church, the abundance of love and support you’ll receive from a body of believers makes all the difference.
Sandy´s last blog ..funny
June 29th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Well said indeed.
Attending church is critical in my opinion. It provides a support group of believers while dad is away.
When dad does return, it is absolutely necessary that he is involved in the lives of the children. Otherwise, there is a danger that they may resent what he has chosen to do for a living. This is true regardless of the job and is certainly not unique to the military. While I grew up in a different era, I do believe that homeschooling parents tend to have more of a personal commitment to their kids and are, in fact involved in their lives.
As Sandy has said, finding a Grandfather figure is a GREAT idea, and church is probably the best place to find such a person. Have a blessed week.
DrillerAA´s last blog ..New Home
June 29th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Good advice for all of us… to remember that it is GOD who works in the hearts of our children. Not to minimize the parents’ role, but we are called to be faithful, and God is in charge of the results. (That’s hard on a “control freak” like me!)
Julie… a different Julie (my husband is an architect)
Julie´s last blog ..Simple Woman #24
June 30th, 2009 at 2:50 am
A good way to keep Daddy involved is to keep journals. He can keep a journal of his day to day activities (within reason of course…depending on where he is) and you and the kids can keep one too. Exchange once a month (if he’ll be gone long)
Something we did was a regular picture exchange. I’d take pics of the kids, and he’d take pics of his surroundings and we’d email them weekly.
For just you and he…make it a point to share as much as you can of your daily life. That helped my husband a lot when he came home, he already knew the mundane workings of our schedule, because I’d bored him with it already! =P
Sandy´s last blog ..Yes.
June 30th, 2009 at 4:01 am
Just a thought but, make sure you and your husband are absolutely certain that God is wanting him back in the military. The father is extremely important to raising Godly children and having him absent most of the time could be very hard on the family. So, choose wisely.
Dani´s last blog ..“The Fraud and Fantasy of Freewill”
June 30th, 2009 at 7:11 am
Sandy- you obviously have been without hubby quite a bit, those are great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Dani-yes it is good to make sure you are where God wants you no matter what vocation you are in. It is something we evaluate almost on a daily basis. Being in the military to a lot of people is not just a job however, it really is somewhat of a calling. It takes a special kind of person and family to be able to be in the military. Many do it without the Lord and it is extremely difficult with its own set of problems that most in civilian life do not comprehend. Those who are the military and know the Lord find it a lifestyle that draws them closer and more dependent upon the Him!
Driller–I agree with your assessment on homeschooling families. Though it doesn’t mean that there are not just as committed parents who do not homeschool, I do believe that those who do tend to be more proactive and intentional in their parenting, one reason we homeschool is that we need to be more proactive and intentional in raising up a godly heritage.
Julie- I can sooo relate to the struggle of the control freak! *grin*
July 8th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Hi there ! I have a friend that you might want to check out. Her HSB is http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/msmarla
She is a hs mama of many kids that her hubby is away quiet often.
Blessing and ((HUGS)) my SSiC
In Him<
-Mary
Mary @Raising 4 Godly Men´s last blog ..Tightwad Tuesday ~ A Eccomomical Way To Be Creative With Picture Editing/Scrapbooking