The Advantages of Home Schooling
Renae Pelo May 15th, 2009
by Lisa Rae Preston
One friend said to me, “I don’t know if I’d want to homeschool, because it wouldn’t leave me any time for ministry.”
After I quit twitching and biting my tongue, I started to ponder the real meaning of that statement.
While Paul says . . . some plant, some water, and some reap the harvest, our usual interpretation of ministry is one person preaching to a congregation and people going to the altar. I have been blessed a million times by that kind of ministry. But rarely has a person taken me by the hand and said, “I’m not letting go until we reach the next step. I am holding on to you. I believe in you, I will listen to you, and I will love you no matter what.” That’s powerful ministry. And you can’t do it to a hundred people!
What greater blessing to be able to give all of that listening, mentoring, loving, challenging, –holding the hand and never letting go– to our children. How devastating not to give them that. Time is so important. And if “all you do” is raise your children to be godly, to love Christ with all their hearts, souls, minds and strength, YOU have had an awesome ministry. What greater blessing for a mother than to have the time to gently instruct her children in the ways of God.
You can’t hurry that. True discipleship and commitment aren’t “convenient”. They’re processes that demand time and focus.
To be home, sharing God’s Word as our children rise, as they go about their day, as they go to bed at night — helping these precious, precious gifts store up God’s Word in their hearts and walk in the way that leads to freedom- What a ministry!
In the age of fast-this, convenience-that, we have become a society absent from community. We are a culture that doesn’t even recognize the benefits of spending lots of time with and nurturing our own children.
What a message of strength and hope that a parent would say, “You know, I want my children with me. I want them holding my hand along this journey of life –not their peers’ hands.”
The beauty of homeschooling is that it allows time for that commitment in a less-stressed, slower paced atmosphere. The awesome sense of connection we’ll have with our children will be worth any sacrifice we make.
And the blessings will last an eternity.
Lisa Preston taught public school for 17 years before becoming a Homeschool Evangelist! Pick up her free book Why You Should Homeschool Your Child: A Public Schoolteacher’s Confession at http://www.homeschoolhelper.com
Lisa Rae Preston may be contacted at http://www.lisaraepreston.com or lrpreston@msn.com
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- Comments(2)
Amen to what you said. I home school my 5 small children and at times I feel like I’m not “getting anything done”. I really AM getting things done, the most important things, as you said, raising children who KNOW God, children who know right from wrong and raising children who have strong bonds with their siblings and family because that’s who they are spending the most time with.
Blessings to you!
Tammy Graham
Thank you, Tammy. I so agree with your sentiments. I see wonderful things happening with my home schooled grandchildren. I must say, however, that those who go to public school are incredible individuals as well. The most important thing is for parents to be fully committed to the education of their children in all areas of growth. Then it all works out for the benefit of the children individually and for the family. I love that we can all choose what is best for our family. I know you are doing a great job.
Blessings to you as well,
Renae