There is a true deficit in public education and we all know that our culture is morally corrupt. This fact is no different today than it was 50 years ago. Therefore, it cannot be my *reason* for homeschooling. Still, I am grateful for how these negatives have encouraged me to seek what God has said on the matter. Certainly the "deficit" may appear worse and the culture seems in further decline, however, I believe it is all relative. God has never changed, nor has His word.
"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. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
I guess you could say that I allowed tradition to trump scripture. Preschool is what you do with your kids when they turn three. Kindergarten is what you do with your kids when they turn five. I did the next thing. And then the next thing. Without ever really considering the benefits, the repercussions, the possibilities.....the spiritual cost. I mean....I turned out okay.
Don't you love that argument? When did I start settling for "okay" for my kids? When was I the litmus test? Haven't I always searched for the best for these children? Their doctor, their dentist, their bedtimes? Appropriate dress, television, and music? Safe play dates, backyards, and booster seats? How did school fall into this abyss where I accepted things as they are? Total apathy if you ask me now. Of course, if you asked me then I would have climbed to the top of my soapbox and proudly proclaimed all the ways I was attempting to make a difference. The problem was....is....and will forever be this: The school is not responsible for teaching biblical truth. I am. They are also not responsible for teaching biblical values. I am. Oh yeah. That whole biblical worldview? My job as well. How could I do this with a measly quarter of their day? I am getting the leftovers. It just doesn't make sense.
There was always a sense deep down that something didn't make sense. There were a plethora of people in my life who were homeschooling. I picked them apart. How could that make sense? Now...when I stand on the Word of God I cannot see how it does *not* make sense.
I have to be careful to cut this post off because it could quickly turn into a rambling conversation where there is no second party and therefore....makes no sense. I will end where I started. I believe that my responsibility to teach my children doesn't end when they are five. I believe it is a biblical mandate to teach your children the Word of God....above everything else. Everything. Not one thing should take precedence. Not socialization, not high level trigonometry, and not my freedom. Once I surrendered to that truth there came a realization that I could not possibly adhere to this teaching with such time constraints and outside influence. Public education would not work for me. Ever again.
Thank you God for using so many people that point to You and give glory to You through their obedience. Thank you for the deplorable situations in the public school system because they also pointed me to You....and the Word. Thank you for the sadness in my heart every time I sent them away because I now know it was directing me to Your Way. Thank you God for the longing that you have given me for homeschooling....even before I knew it was a possibility. Amen.
7 comments:
Thanks, Kim for sharing this! I agree and have the same thinking you do on this topic! We are very like minded....I'm guessing you didn't already know that! : )
It amazes me how little time I had with my children before making the Big decision...it really breaks my heart. Although I have always been a stay at home mother...when my 2 oldest went to school for those few years, I was allowing so much into their hearts and minds...not to mention, somebody else was raising my children...and others to influence them. No matter how good a family is...they will be influenced by who they are around most.
I have loved these last five years of homeschooling and can not imagine doing anything else...EVER.
It is a way of life now. And we love it!
Email me sometime and let me know what all you will be using next year...if you have made that decision. I'd love to hear about it when you get the time!
Kim
Please write more! I agree so much with what you said about our children's hearts being the most important thing... not socialization, friendships, even personal happiness etc..Godliness matters!
I struggled with preschool, sending them to kindergarten nearly did me in, and the happiest part of each and every day for me is when I see their little faces at the end of the day:-) We send our girls to a Christian school that I adore, and I love that they are immersed in God's Word all day, but how I wish I was the one sharing it with them!
God bless you as you pursue this wonderful adventure!
This is the verse that spoke to me (still speaks) in regards to homeschooling and raising our children. This was such a great post and it echoed so what I believe. I will link to it from my blog.
Thank you!
Kim,
Thank you for this post, it has been a real encouragement and reminder to me.
I homeschooled my kids til 6th grade and then they went to Christian and then public.
My 15 year old daughter just came to me last week and asked me to homeschool her next year. She feels that her relationship with the Lord is suffering.
Your post has really helped me to not fear jumping back in again.
We adopted a daughter from China and I had already planned on homeschooling her, so I guess we will just get started a little earlier with the big sis.
I am so excited to have more time with my older daughter too, I miss her everyday!
Thanks again!
Sue
Kim, I think you should link this for the Back to Homeschool Week. This will be encouraging to someone, I am sure!
Hmmmmm... interesting argument. But you do realize that you have put everyone who does not homeschool into the category of not doing right by their kids, and not following scripture. Taking our kids out of public schools does little to help the situation. We can't be salt and light when we are standing in salt and surrounded by light. I hope my kids learn to stand up for themselves and be different, just as I did. And I also turned out OK... no, not just OK, but blessed! It takes all kinds and all situations. Thank the dear Lord for that.
Just some food for thought...
I'd just like to say I stumbled onto (into?) your blog by accident, not sure how exactly, but I am fascinated by how you and many of your friends/accquaintances/etc have the ability to homeschool. I would love to have this option, but I have to work. I don't mean that I have to work so that we can afford the luxuries of life, but rather the neccessities. Not that I'm prying into your financial lives, but I would love to know how it is possible to homeschool if your husband doesn't make enough to support the family on his own. It's not as though it's not a priority to me, it's just that having food on the table, a roof over our heads, and clothing and medical care for the kids is a greater priority. Still, I admire you for being able to do this, and I would love to do it myself. You are truly blessed.
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