I'm thinking on starting a series of posts perhaps on Sundays as to why we as a family have chosen to educate our children at home. Every family seems to have different reasons and a different starting point but I will chronicle for you the path that the Lord has had us on the last 17 years and that we are still on to this day.Perhaps I can see my main responsibilities coming to a close in the near future with our youngest at home being 15 now. The pain of seeing our family shrink in numbers as one by one my children fly the nest is only balanced by the pride I have in them as I see them becoming wonderful adults, spouses and parents themselves.
Whether you home educate or not the purpose of your children's education is not academics as many may suppose. In fact, some think that the homeschool movement was started by God Himself in order to get ahold of the parents hearts. (bring them to their knees-spoken by experience) Any home educating parent quickly learns to cry out to God for help as we see plainly we cannot do it in our own strength.
The most often quoted verses that many consider the premier navigating passage in the Bible has a direct command to educate our own children in a certain way.
Deuteronomy 6:4.
The curriculum
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commands that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. (The parents hearts first)
The Designated Faculty
Impress them on your children. (a mentoring and discipling relationship)
The Most Effective Method of Instruction
Talk about them when you sit at home, (You are together at home not going in separate directions) and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (living with your children together as a family unit) Tie them as symbols on your hands (your hands are mostly in front of your own face) and bind them on your foreheads. (for your children to see you living out our faith daily)
The Site of Instruction
Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.
I will close today with a portion of prose that I had tucked in my homeschool files/notebook. Author unknown.
If I learn my ABC's, can read 600 words per minute, and can write with perfect penmanship, but have not learned how to communicate with the Designer of all language.... my education is not complete.
If I have memorized addition facts, multiplication tables, and chemical formulas, but have never disciplined myself to hide Gods' word in my heart, my education is not complete.
If I can classify animals by their family, genus, and species and can write lengthy papers that wins awards but have not been introduced to the makers purpose for all creation my education is not complete.
If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and the Preamble to the Constitution but have not been informed of the hand of God in the history of our country, my education is not complete.
If I can play the piano, the violin and six other instruments and can write music that moves men to tears but have not learned to listen to the director of the universe and worship Him my education is not complete.
If I can run cross-country races, star in basketball , and do 100 push ups without stopping but have never bent my will to do God's will my education is not complete.
However, If I see the world as God sees it and come to know Him Whom to know is life eternal, and glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me, then my education is complete.
