Our Foundation for Home Education

    How many times have I been asked the question, "So why do you homeschool?" The person asking this question has no idea what flashes through my brain. It is so simple, so direct, so hard to put into words the very foundation of our education. The person asking this question is not ready or even looking for a ten page essay explaining the depth of my passion and calling to home educate. They are not anticipating a five hour conversation revolving around the long and sometimes lonely journey God has brought us on. So I begin by saying, "I have a completely different mindset than what is being taught in schools, Christian or public." That answer might be sufficient for them, or it might lead into a discussion spanning many days, emails, phone calls and book recommendations.

    My mindset stems from a passage of Scripture that has given me a growing passion to home educate, and disciple my children.

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them to your children, and talk to them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."  Deutoronomy 6:6-7

I had read this section of scripture many times over the years and always felt that it was a call to raise your children in the ways of the Lord.  It wasn't until  a couple of years ago that it really grabbed hold of my heart and wouldn't let go. I was really struggling with being overwhelmed with four small children and feeing like, despite my greatest intentions, I wasn't being the mother I wanted to be. I started looking around me and seeing all the amazing things that all the other moms were doing with their children and I just didn't measure up....Measure up to what? What were my goals, my hopes; what was my foundation for all that I was trying to accomplish in raising my children?

    I took a Sunday afternoon to sit down with my Bible in hand and seek out what God had to say. That day I came across this passage from Deuteronomy. And with new clarity found that I had lumped all these instructions into a simple "Raise them for God's glory" thought and didn't see the "how" part in the same passage. How do we raise them for God's glory? When you sit, walk, lie down, and rise up. ALL the time! We are to be with our children ALL the time with the purpose of teaching and instructing them in the ways of the Lord. God knows that the hearts of children are not set overnight. It takes years to form opinions, beliefs,...the foundation for the rest of their life. And once this foundation is set, it is very difficult to alter later. Why would I give these years to someone else when God tells us that they are the responsibility of the parents.

   As I catch the heart of this passage it tells me that I am to be spending my days in purposeful, engaging, inspiring activities and conversation that point to Christ. As I live daily with my children I will pass on to them a gift that far out weighs what the world has to offer. It cannot be measured in monetary value. It will be at their very core. A foundation to carry them through lifes valleys and plateaus. They will know the God we serve because they have walked with us daily seeking Him in all things. They have seen us turn to Him when things are hard and praise Him when we experience the joy of answered prayers. It will take time, energy, sacrifice, humility, compassion. It will take diligence, purpose, encouragement, patience...much patience. But the reward,...oh the reward will be something I cannot express. To see the miracle of a child seeking to please the Lord in all they say and do. Is there a greater joy?

    This is my passion. It gives me purpose in all that I do. Transforming the daily activities of life into a high and holy calling. It is what drives me to get out of bed and find greatness in washing dishes, folding laundry, teaching subtraction, and times tables. Because it is through these daily activities I point my children to their Savior. They are watching my responses, my priorities, and my attitude. They are listening to my tone and my language. So humbling, so overwhelming without Christ. But with Him as my source of inspiration, and as I draw on Him for wisdom and strength, I can soar. There is hope for discipling these little ones for His glory. It will not be perfect, but it is possible. This is my motivation for every area of parenting, part of which is education.