|
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
|
