God fills in the holes

Toward the end of every school year, I find myself sifting through a pile of homeschool curriculum catalogs, re-evaluating what has worked well this past school year and what could be better. By summer, I’ve completed most of my plan for the upcoming school year, but there are always still a few decisions to make.  I also try to spend a little time re-thinking my main homeschool goals. Sure, I want my children to be artistic, eloquent, creative, confident, responsible, caring, and—of course—brilliant. But just exactly how am I supposed to accomplish all that?

At a homeschool mom’s retreat I was blessed to attend earlier this year, I gleaned some invaluable wisdom. No matter what curriculum you use, how many hours of school you do, or how much planning you put into it, there will be some of those dreaded “education gaps” – GASP!

It is impossible for even the best school, homeschool or otherwise, to complete an education with absolutely no “holes.” But, here’s the good news: God fills in the holes. Let me say that again: God fills in the holes. Take a minute to let that sink in.

“I [the LORD] will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.” Isaiah 54:13

Think of the freedom that gives you! You are no longer enslaved to competition within your household or in comparing the “success” of your homeschool to anyone else’s. You don’t have to worry if your child isn’t one of the highest scorers on standardized tests. God Himself is the teacher, guide, principal, and planner for your homeschool. You need only look to God to guide you. Give your children fully and truly to God, and He will take charge of their education.

OK, so this promise God gives us is HUGE and wonderful, but how does this look practically? We must remember that we homeschool moms are not just teachers; we are disciplers.

A few questions to ask yourself:

• What kind of influence am I having on my family?
  The way we live our lives does have influence on those around us, especially our children, so before we jump into shaping their character, we have to look at our own.
• How is my own relationship with Christ?
  As we grow closer to Christ ourselves, it will be easier to point our children towards Him.
• What kind of home environment have I created?
  The more loving, encouraging, and edifying our home and family life is, the better everyone in the home will be able to learn and grow.
• How well do I know my children? We must be in tune with the heart of our children to know where they may be struggling, where they need extra encouragement. If we are to be able to properly guide and disciple our children, we must be intentional about spending quality time with them, continually getting to know them as they grow and change.

If you’ve never written a mission statement for your homeschool, I highly recommend it. I may still tweak mine, but so far, it looks like this:

“Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.
We want to give our children a quality education built on the solid foundation of Biblical teaching and faith in Christ. To allow them the freedom to wonder, imagine, ask questions, and learn hands-on whenever possible. To teach them to be confident and self-disciplined. To love, encourage, and disciple them so they grow up to be spiritually wise, creative, responsible, caring individuals who follow Christ and lead lives that glorify God.”

There is no right or wrong about the specifics of your homeschool mission statement, but having something like this in writing helps you focus on those days when it feels like nothing is getting accomplished. If your home and family are seeking first and foremost to please and glorify the Lord, then you are indeed accomplishing everything that truly matters.

Check out my article on page 24 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.

Jamie is in her third year of homeschooling, and loving the mostly-Charlotte Mason style she’s chosen. She is a joyfully married wife in a blended family, and knows that absolutely anything good she accomplishes is because of Christ in her. Her days are fueled by the love of her family and many cups of steaming hot tea. Visit her blog Rose Cottage.

Tags: Curriculum, educating the heart, faith-based teaching, homeschool accomplishments, homeschool goals, homeschool planning, July 09 Edition, learning gaps, mission statement, reevaluating, worry

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