Hear,
O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You
shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your might. And
these words which I command you today shall be in
your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your
children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie
down, and when your rise up. (Deut.
6:4-7)
Home
schooling is an ancient way of life. It is older
than government schools and private academies. From
the beginning, parents have held themselves
accountable for the training of their children.
There was no one else to do it. Who would have
taught Cain and Abel but Adam and Eve? Highly
intelligent and capable, the first parents imparted
to their children the words of life given to them
from God Himself. Practical skills were passed on
from parent to child, thus rounding out one's
education. So today, we who have stumbled onto this
way are simply discovering one of God's good plans
for families. This pattern, found in Deuteronomy,
chapter 6, focuses on the LORD'S expectations for
parents. According to this passage, God is concerned
with every area of one's life and every part of
one's day. Centuries later a wise man echoes these
instructions to his own son:
My
son, keep your father's command, and do not forsake
the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon
your heart; tie them around your neck. When you
roam, they will lead you; when you sleep, they will
keep you; and when you awake, they will speak with
you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is
light; reproofs of instruction are the
(Proverbs 6:20-23)
Clearly,
our primary goal as parents is to model and impart a
love for God and His ways. Saturating our children's
minds with scripture will train them to view life
from God's perspective and to make decisions based
on God's word, not man's. This foundation will
enable them to read literature or the newspaper,
study the sciences, view history, talk to neighbors,
budget their finances, and participate in their
community with discernment. The scriptures will
carve character into our children as we guide
them in applying God's Word to everyday situations.
Firmly planted in the garden of the LORD, our
children will . . . set their hope in God and not
forget the works of God, but keep His commandments .
. . (Psalm 78:7)
A
godly home provides the proper atmosphere in which
to train one's children. Home is where our children
can learn the laws of "sowing and
reaping." When they fall -- and they will --
they will land in our loving arms. Appropriate
discipline applied to steer them in the right
direction will provide lessons to be learned while
young, consequently, avoiding some painful
experiences as adults. Undisciplined adults lacking
in integrity are generally the result of poor
training as a child. Our availability as home
schooling parents enables us to spot rebellion or
character weaknesses as tiny sprouts and to nip them
before they become full-grown trees. Opportunities
for instruction or correction abound while sitting
around the breakfast table, driving to the grocery
store, reading a good book together, attending a
field trip, visiting the neighbors, helping in a
community service project, or studying math. Thus,
the home serves as a "greenhouse" from
which we tenderly nurture our children in
preparation for adulthood.
And
these words . . . you shall teach them diligently to
your sons . . . (Deut.
6:6) Scripture is brimming with instructions for
every area of our lives. Consider the content that
Deuteronomy alone covers: history, art, warfare,
marriage, child bearing, economics, criminal
justice, education, health, agriculture, government,
the poor, safety, ownership, manner of dress,
business, self-defense, dietary guidelines, singing,
and the attributes of God. A well-rounded curriculum
is right at our finger tips. God has His perspective
for all of life, and that is at the heart of our
children's education. From this framework, we choose
our textbooks wisely. Life itself, with Biblical
guidelines, is what we are imparting to our
children.
The
Hebrew rendering of the word diligently denotes
a sense of sweat and determination. In an age when
most parents have abdicated the education of their
children to the societal institutions, the diligent
training required of home schooling families is a
great contrast. It takes time, determination,
conviction, and, most of all, a deep love for one's
children. This does not mean that we parents are
solely responsible for the whole of our children's
education. We embrace the community, particularly
the community of believers, as did the ancient
Hebrews. It does, however, place the awesome
accountability to God squarely on the parents'
shoulders. Parental example and tutoring, along with
the integration of community resources, combine to
instill in our children the character and skills
needed to be productive, godly adults.
Another
crucial element of our children's training is
companionship. Just as we obey God because we love
Him, so our children will be encouraged to obey us
if we establish relationships with them.
Companionship develops while we . . . sit in (our)
house, . . . walk by the way, . . . lie down, and
. . . rise up. (Deut. 6:7b) Sharing hopes and
dreams, playing games, reading a good book aloud,
working together, or cooperating in ministry will
build a bridge of trust that leads to healthy
communication. The bond formed in companionship is
like a well from which our children draw life and
shape their futures, testifying that he who walks
with wise men will be wise . . . (Proverbs
13:20a)
Home
schooling is a way of life. It extends from
our homes, reaching into the community. Our guide is
God's word and our goal is to impart life. Not a
fad, but a tradition rooted in ancient peoples from
the beginning, home schooling challenges and
strengthens the whole family. Like olive
plants all around [our] table
(Psalm 128:3b), our children will bring delight and
rejoicing to our homes and communities.
by
Terri L. White
