Homeschooling is a little like giving birth.
More than 36 hours of laboring exhausted me. I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
My doctor sat on a rolling stool at the foot of my bed. He tried to assist me during a “tsunami” contraction, but I shrieked and (involuntarily) shoved him across the room.
I had hoped to give birth naturally.
When “labor” begins …
Truth-be-told, I might not have survived the birth of my son without medical assistance.
With graduation on the horizon, the demands of homeschooling intensify:
- academic requirements
- career planning
- college choices
Our strength and endurance are tested, and it’s easy to slip into “survival mode.”
But this is no time to shriek and shove.
It is time to surrender … to The Great Physician.
The Great Physician will guide us through the final years of our homeschool journey.
Courage and Conviction Required
Considering what our children may encounter once they graduate, our need for God becomes apparent.
In Worshipping the State, Benjamin Wiker, Ph.D., tells how incoming college students were forced to participate in an exercise intended to shame and punish those who held “politically incorrect” opinions.
Students were required to stand along one of two walls:
- one wall if they supported the right to gay marriage, abortion, and other unbiblical values
- another wall if they did not.
As you might guess, biblical values and those who stood for them were perceived to be “oppressive.”
He warned us.
Although there is more to this story, it’s safe to say this college has become a model that other colleges are beginning to emulate.
(God help us.)
It gives us a glimpse into the type of challenges our children are likely to face as they leave the shelter of our homes.
This is not the future I envisioned for those sweet babies I once held in my arms.
If I did not have faith in Jesus, such stories could lead me to despair.
However, Jesus warned us that in this world we will have trouble.
Thankfully, He followed that warning with incredibly good news…. (Wait for it.)
He has overcome this world! (John 16:33)
Fear of God is the Beginning of Wisdom.
Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. It can help us resist the temptation to sin.
Thinking back to that college “exercise,” I’m reminded of another warning.
Jesus said if we are ashamed to be publicly identified with Him now, He will be ashamed of us when He returns in glory with His angels (Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26).
So how can I help my sons gain the conviction and courage to stand for truth?
Turning to the Book
Early in our homeschool journey, a number of Bible verses surfaced as the guiding principles for our homeschool.
Today, when I find myself slipping into a worldly mindset-focusing exclusively on temporal concerns and losing sight of the bigger picture-I revisit those Scriptures and regain a biblical perspective.
Consider these facts:
Our children may invest 4 years attending college, and perhaps 40 years working in one or more careers, but they will spend endless years in eternity.
Men Who Understand the Times
Forewarned is forearmed.
Our family places a high value on critical thinking.
Consequently, in addition to math and science, we study history, economics, philosophy, and apologetics.
We can equip them.
We use resources that present each subject from a distinctly biblical worldview.
And we take time to discuss controversial issues and how they are perceived by different worldviews.
In fact, we created Philosophy Adventure, a resource that teaches students to write skillfully, think critically, and speak clearly as they explore philosophy from a biblical worldview.
will your students recognize truth?
Take every thought captive.
Thought precedes action.
The next Scripture impressed upon me the need for mental purity.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ… (2 Corin. 10:5)
My sons, (like the rest of us), will experience trials and temptations. When they do, how they respond will depend greatly upon their thoughts.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)
Nothing is hidden.
In our home, we often discuss how nothing is hidden from God.
Before we even think-much less speak or act-God knows what’s on our minds (Ps. 139:2).
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. (Ps. 139:2)
Thankfully, by reading and reflecting upon His Word, we can fill our minds with God’s thoughts.
Always be prepared.
Use words.
Although our actions may communicate what we truly believe, we also need to communicate with words.
If my sons are serious about following Jesus, some of their choices will set them apart from the crowd. When that happens, people may ask why.
In 1 Peter 3:15, we’re told to be prepared to answer their questions with gentleness and respect.
Consequently, we have invested a great deal of time developing our communications skills. Speech and debate club and tournaments have been an excellent place to practice them.
Make the most of every opportunity.
Seize the day!
Ephesians 5:16 urges us to make the most of every opportunity for the days are evil.
Some days we seize; some days we stumble. We are grateful for God’s new mercies every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).
My sons know that one day they will stand before God to give an account of what they did with the talents He entrusted to them (Luke 19).
They know that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
We all understand that we have been given quite a lot. I pray that this understanding continues to impact their work ethic and the choices they make throughout all the days of their lives.
Take aim.
I have heard it said that we begin dying the moment we are born.
Peering into the eyes of a newborn, that’s hard to believe.
It’s also hard to believe how quickly that newborn can become a young man.
Although my focus rightly shifts now to helping my sons prepare for college and plan their careers, it is essential we labor with eternity in mind.
All of this life is preparation for the next.
In the midst of the demands of homeschooling-and the demands and distractions of life-we must not lose sight of our ultimate goal.
As C. S. Lewis wisely observed in Mere Christianity:
Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.
Thank you for this post, as a mother of a brand new baby boy I can’t help but worry and pray about the future of my little son, this post has eased my worries some and given me some wisdom on how to guide my child.
You are most welcome, Natasha. Thank you for taking time to share. It is a blessing to rest in the knowledge that God loves our little ones even more than we do! (And His power knows no limits!)