Efficiency, Grace and Greatness
The Keys to Home-schooling and Life
Indeed home-schooling my children is like balm to my soul. Spending time with each of them has become not only an enjoyable task, but a real part of who I am in Christ. I am often asked to give guidance to others who are interested in embarking on this journey or those who are new to this journey. My desire is that my words be riddled with truth. It is far more important to speak unity than to force someone to believe that they must home-school. For this reason, it is peril that I seize these moments as not simply an opportunity to discuss education, but as an opportunity to witness. For the matter is not whether we home-school or not, but does one truly believe what has been written in the Scriptures. Thus, I must take the time to reason deeply with an effort to provide advice based in Scripture to those in any situation.
Make the Most of Your Time
“Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
-Epehsians 5:15-16
Our children enter the world as infants. Our gracious God gives us many years to teach and guide them. Let us be careful to be deliberate with our time, teaching and instructing them as we come and go. One key way to begin the process of teaching is to read aloud regularly to your sweets. This includes the Scriptures. However, the general knowledge of God is lined in the very nature of things, thus read all kinds of appropriate literature to your children.
Model Grace
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
-Colossians 4:6
Be ever so gentle with your children as you are leading and guiding them daily. As adults, life has taken its toll on us. We often forget that our children, no matter how sinful their actions are, have a deep level of innocence about them. They simply have not seen much of the world as they have only been alive for a few short years. We mustn’t rob them of their innocence in our efforts to correct them. We must be gentle and patient. Parenting is a long, tumultuous, winding road. Being too strong can make the road almost unbearable. It is gentleness that turns away wrath.
Demand Greatness
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance
as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
-Colossians 3:23-24
As you work daily teaching and instructing your children, making the most of your time and modeling grace, remember the chief end: to know God. Thus, demand, expect and require your children to be great. You have all day everyday for many years to teach them how to do any given task. Do it. Do it well. Do it with purpose and do it because He has purposed in you “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.”
God bless you sister along this journey!