Why we're home schooling, really isn't about home-school at all.
Instead, it has everything to do with life... with hearts. It has to do with wisdom and how the Word of God says that true wisdom only comes from one place... The fear of The Lord. And if I am honest with myself, it has to do with me, and the many ways that I still need to do a lot of growing up when it comes to my Jesus.
It's not about math or writing. It's about the privilege of raising souls for the glory of the One True God.
It's about walking with the wise and thus becoming wise. ("He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." Proverbs 13:20)
It's about loving His law and thinking upon it all day long. ( O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalms 119:97-104)
The Cowboy and I have one chance, a few short years to exemplify the things that will truly bring our children the abundant life (Psalm 19).
And so we soak up our time.
We learn right along side them.
And we thank our Jesus that He has given us such a gift in training up souls, in such a time as this. :)
So here we go... ten scriptures that admonish us as Mama and Papa to pour all that we are into this crazy-beautiful privilege... the gift of our treasures.
1. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” {Genesis 18:19} (It's in our daily living that our children should see the Lord. By having them home with me, there is ample opportunity for us all to see Him together. I love that!)
2. Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” {Deuteronomy 4:9-10}
3. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates. {Deuteronomy 6:6-9} (ALL_DAY_LONG we are privileged to know our sweet Jesus, more and more. :) LOVE THAT!)
4. All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. {Isaiah 54:13}
5. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. {Psalm 1:1-2}
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. {Psalm 1:1-2}
6. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. {Romans 12:2}
(In these growing up years, how will they transformed by the renewing of their minds if they do not know daily the full glory of His Word? I love Paul's admonishment here. And I'm so thankful for these early years of my kiddos lives and the opportunity he has given in our little farmhouse to fall in love and train our very thoughts towards the One who loves us most. :)
7. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. {Proverbs 1:8-9}
8. Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. {Proverbs 22:6 }
9. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. {Philippians 4:7-9} (The sad reality is that the world we live in no longer spends their days thinking upon these very things. All the more reason to know His Word so that we can continually think upon these things. Man, just reading these verses inspires me in my daily calling as a Mama of many small children. :)
10. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. {2 Timothy 3:16-17}
Under this roof, and only by His endless gift of grace, may they grow up in love... in love with the very One who calls Himself LOVE.
May they be a blessing and a gift to their community and their country.
May they serve Him because His very Spirit has convinced them that sticking close to Jesus is the absolute best way to live.
May their faith be their own, and NOT just their Mama and Papa's.
May the Cowboy and I exemplify with our lives, but in the end, may our children, through the continual study of His Word and a daily living out of forgiveness, kindness, grace and love, decide for themselves that He is worthy of our everything.
May the Cowboy and I be brave enough to trust in YOU and not in ourselves. May we never forget that these children are not ours, but in fact Yours. You know their days and the number of every hair on their heads.
May I never forget the privilege of this season with little feet running about, opportunity for character training around every corner, and a cozy little farm house FULL of love and laughter!! :)
“The most important fact about the subject of education is that there is no such thing. Education is not a subject, and it does not deal in subjects. It is instead the transfer of a way of life.” -G.K. Chesterton
I'm feeling much joy these days in my crazy-beautiful privilege. :)
A link to a wonderful admonition to parents... love the challenge she gives!
http://www.generationcedar.com/main/2012/06/the-problem-with-education-we-dont-know-what-it-means-but-the-government-does.html
