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Combine and Conquer
Why we Homeschool
There are many different reasons people decide to homeschool their children. I would like to share with you today why our family homeschools. Being fully aware of our reasons propels us forward and it gives us purpose. Placing these reasons ever before us pushes us on toward our goal.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
This encompasses every aspect of life, at all times and in all things. I do not believe this can be fully accomplished if the responsibility is abdicated to others and children are put under the authority of those who disagree with the biblical approach to every aspect of life or are obligated to teach using a secular curriculum with a humanistic and atheistic approach. There truly is no real neutrality. Here is a quote from a book I have read recently, it gives a good summary. This is enough to propel me to move forward and count the rewards when I am feeling overwhelmed. It is what God has called me to do as a Christian mother.
The biblical mind is not compartmentalized into two distinct areas of though: secular and sacred. All of life is under the authority of God’s revealed Word, and children were to be taught in terms of this comprehensive authority all the time.from: Standing on the Promises by Doug Wilson
I acknowledge that all will not agree with my reasons for homeschooling. Many will have other reasons and some will just flat out disagree and that is ok. We have our reasons and they are grounded in the Word. These reasons as propel to continue on our homeschooling journey. When we have a frustrating day, they urge us forward and help to keep us focused.
My Perfect Homeschool Experience
I remember the very first day that I started homeschooling twelve and a half years ago. I was so excited! I had my curriculum picked out and all of the supplies I needed gathered and set out on the table the night before. Things went perfectly! After all, I had read and reread the lessons like twenty times already. I was going to be the perfect homeschool mom and things were always going to be sunshine and rainbows. What I didn’t allow to enter my mind was the fact that in order to have a rainbow, there has to be rain! My perfect homeschool experience lasted three whole days and when day four hit I became, what I thought, was a total failure! I have grown a lot since then and realize that having unattainable goals will always leave me feeling like a failure. Why set myself up for that? Here is one thing that I have learned along the way and tried to apply to my life.
BE FLEXIBLE! Planning is a good thing, be prepared, but be flexible! Babies will cry, children will get sick, mom will get sick with 102 degree temperature, the dog will get sick, the bird will break free from its cage and the cats will go nuts! All of this will happen when hubby is out of town. Oh, did I mention mom is due in 3 weeks and always delivers early(can we say stress & fear?)?
YES, this is an actual week of my life. Guess what, no one can have a perfect school day when this is your week! Be flexible and remember things do not always go as planned. Remember your reason for being: to bring glory to God. Sometimes our plan is not His plan. During this week (several years ago), we did not get through our ABC’s but we learned a much more valuable lesson, to lean upon the Lord. If we learn to lean upon the Lord we will find things flow more smoothly even as we ride along all the bumps in the road.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Following Footprints
When we moved into this house we had to purchase a refrigerator. Now of course it didn’t matter to my husband which refrigerator we bought; guys just do not seem to care about those types of things. I told him I had always wanted a refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom. So that is what we bought. I absolutely love it! Not only is the fridge, the part you utilize the most, on top and more accessible; it reminded me of when I was a small child. There were a few years when I was young that I lived with my grandparents. My grandmother had a refrigerator with the freezer on the bottom. I remember swiping ice cubes for snacks. This has become a scene in my home also. My little ones love to get ice cubes out for a snack, especially my 16 month old. It brings a smile to my face. As crazy as it sounds watching my little ones take ice cubes out of “the freezer on the bottom” lets me reminisce on one of the few good memories of my childhood. It also reminds me that my children will follow my footprints.
Today at lunch, I was sitting with my 3 year eating pizza. Daddy and all of the other children were in the other room. We chatted a bit and after a short silent moment a smile spread across her face. She looked up at me with the sweetest smile and said, “When I grow up, I want to be a mommy just like you.” Is that not enough to melt your heart?? It is also another reminder that my children will follow my footprints.
God provides so many opportunities to remind us that our children are watching us. That they are imitating us. It causes me to evaluate my life. Am I living in a way that I want my children to imitate? How would I react if my children did (my current action)? Would I approve?
I am not the perfect example, if left to myself, I will always fail. God is the one who allows any good to come of my life. If I want any good to come of my children’s lives then I must point them to the Savior. I must imitate the one that I desire them to imitate. I must be like Christ so that they will want to be like Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
As my children follow in my footprints, these verses express my prayer.
- Job 23:11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.
- Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
A Penguin at the Manger
Every year we set up a nativity set. It sits upon our piano away from little fingers that could easily break the figurines. Our children do on occasion end up getting away with playing with it. It has almost become a tradition to do something to the set to see how long it takes for mom or dad to notice. That usually means the shepherds and wise men trade places or the donkey is turned around backwards. Some may say this is inappropriate but in our home this has become a way to make sure that we are focused on the correct thing at Christmas time, our Savior. Do we really notice the nativity set or is it just another decoration? Last year was one of the most creative and we even snapped a photo. I noticed standing between Mary and Joseph gazing down at the baby Jesus was a penguin. The phrase, “There is a visitor at the manger,” was repeated over and over again. Do we visit the manger? Not just the sweetness of a newborn baby and the cute scene we display but the full picture? That day, even though glorious, showed the coldness of the world. Even in rejoicing that the Savior has come, we know He came only to die. Christmas is a time of wonder, joy, love, awe, and amazement. It should also be a time when we once again acknowledge our dependence upon a holy and just God. Let us not get caught up in the sparkling lights, pretty bows, ribbons, cookies, and presents. Let us make our main focus be the same as that which the little penguin upon my piano represented. Let us be a visitor at the manger and our focus be upon the Living Lord. Merry Christmas and may God bless you as you celebrate the risen Lord.
A Homeschool Mom’s Responsibility to Bring Glory to God
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Scripture is clear in the fact that parents are responsible for the education of their children. As Christian parents we are to do this in a way that brings honor and glory to God. As homeschoolers we all tend to have different methods. Some, like myself, use the classical approach following the Trivium, others like workbooks, some prefer Charlotte Mason, while there are those who like the unschooling approach. As Christians, no matter what our schooling method is, our main goal should be to raise godly Christian adults. This can be a very daunting and often thankless task. Sometimes parents even wonder if they will ever see the fruit. Let me encourage you in the fact that God is sovereign! He is all-seeing! God sees the work you pour into the children He has blessed you with. Continue to press on; the fruit will come to bear! Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
The Westminster Catechism question #1 asks, What is the chief end of man?
The answer is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
(1 Corinthians 6:20, 10:31, Revelation 4:11)
