I am not a “homeschool mom”…

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I AM NOT A “HOME SCHOOL” MOM…I AM A CHRISTIAN WOMAN, A MOM….AND I HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HOME SCHOOL!

I know that this may seem like I am being slightly “picky”, but please bear with me and I’ll explain why I entitled this as I did.

In the “Christian Community” there are so many “issues” that can cause division. How we choose to educate our children can be one of those issues. Having home schooled for 13 years I have seen the temptation to make it more than I believe God ever intended to be. I have seen it cause division among believers and I have been in groups of well meaning women who looked down on and condemned those who do not feel led to home school. (I have also been looked down on and condemned because I DO home school!) This should never be.

Even though I have home schooled for 13 years, I do not like to be known as a “home school mom”. I do not think that should be my identity, or what people automatically associate me with when they see me. If I am working to serve and edify the body of Christ as a whole, then others will not see me (or hear me) treating others differently because of how they decide to educate their children.

I am not ashamed that we have home schooled. It is what we were called to do as a family. It worked for us. It wasn’t done perfectly, and my children are not “child prodigy’s” because they were home schooled. But it worked for us. They are doing well and they are learning. God has provided for them all they need. My daughter is in college and God is enabling her to do well, and my son is in high school and doing just fine. But that has been God’s plan for us. It’s not for everyone.

Okay. Then what should my “identity” be? What should others “associate” me with when they see me or if I come to their mind? That is simple. The answer is Jesus. My focus needs to be Jesus so that others are pointed to HIM when they interact with me.

I remember once having a conversation with a woman I had just met and after she left I knew that she “home schooled, home birthed, didn’t eat sugar, and had several children.” She had spoken very “passionately” about each of these subjects. Although she was very sweet and all of those things are wonderful things, I noticed that as she was sharing there was an invisible wall going up around those of us who didn’t share the same passion that she did.

As this woman continued to talk I observed another lady who was listening to the conversation and saw that her countenance had become that which was discouraged. Knowing that she wanted to home school but her husband was not supportive (and that she was submitting to her husband!) I felt the need to come to her aid! I put my hand on her arm and said, “Isn’t it great that God has given us so many options to choose from?” She seemed a little relieved and encouraged.

I left that conversation feeling sad because what that well meaning lady did that day is something I’m sure I’ve done to others without realizing it. I’ve been on the other side of it as well… when someone has been so passionate about what they have been called to that they ended up criticizing me for what I do differently. It can be so easy to do.

We can get so focused on WHAT WE ARE CALLED TO that we forget to focus on WHO CALLED US! There is a danger of becoming devoted to the “issue” rather than doing what we feel led to do out of a devotion to Christ and bringing HIM glory.

There can be division when the focus is not right. Rather than focusing on what we have in common as believers, it’s so easy to focus on where we may differ. Many of the “issues” are not mandates but personal preferences. My family might be called to do something and your family to another. As long as we are not disobeying God’s Word, we should be able to encourage each other in the Lord and fellowship anyway.

What do I want to be known for?

~I am called to live a holy life.
~I am called to serve and encourage others.
~I am called to pursue God and be in His Word.
~I am called to glorify God in all that I do.
~I am called to be a light.
~I am called to humility, repentance, and to have a teachable spirit.
~I am called to offer my life a living sacrifice.
~I am called to be a submissive wife, and to raise my children according to biblical principles.

I pray that this will be what I am devoted to, and known for, no matter how God has chosen for me to educate my children!

What do YOU want to be known for?

Gina is the mom of two high schoolers, a freshman and a Senior. In her writings, she shares the many lessons that God has taught her and her family, as they have sought Him through the years. Visit her at her blog, Chats with An Old Lady.