Choosing Wisely
Posted in Daily Focus on Tuesday, June 10, 2014
"Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors" (Psalm 119:24).
Choices are the very thing parents love about homeschooling, but they can also be very frustrating. After making the huge decision to homeschool, parents are immediately faced with a barrage of additional choices, such as which curriculum to use, what teaching method to follow, and countless other where, when, and how questions. With so many variables, new homeschoolers reach out to homeschooling experts for guidance. However, God created every child and home uniquely, and what works for one family might not work for another. Although the experience of other homeschoolers can help to guide us, ultimately only God can show us the perfect homeschooling plan He has designed for our family.
Trusting in the opinions of others can be helpful or disastrous, depending on the counselors you choose. King Solomon's son, Rehoboam, learned this lesson the hard way. After his father died and he became king, Rehoboam was faced with an intense rebellion of the people led by Jeroboam. Jeroboam and the people insisted that Rehoboam be more lenient on the workforce than his father had been. After they voiced their complaints, they asked for a response. Telling them to come back in three days for his answer, Rehoboam first consulted with the elders who had served his father. Not liking their wise response of "speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever," Rehoboam instead turned to the counsel of young men who grew up with him. Acting on their arrogant and prideful counsel, Rehoboam spoke harshly to the people and lost the following of almost the entire nation of Israel (1 Kings 12:1-17).
Are you overwhelmed by the myriad of homeschooling choices? Getting informed and familiarizing yourself with curriculums, techniques, and approaches is a great place to start. Be careful, however, when you actually make your decisions. Many opinions abound, but let the Lord's counsel be the one you trust most. In His wisdom, He'll continue to lead you as you trust in His Word.
Lord, homeschooling seems so overwhelming, and I'm afraid of choosing the wrong things for my children. Please, show me how and where to start and guide me as we start on this new journey together. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Comments(9 comments)
JESSIE C 06/10/2010 04:01:58
Wonderful advice. I've been homeschooling for 13 years and in the beginnng when I had trouble with an ADHD son, much advice was thrown at me...often homeschoolers are a very opinionated lot...I had to learn to take my direction from God and not from the many well-intentioned folks who wanted to tell me what to do! I have no regrets in following the way that I did, although I had a lot of criticism from others. My ADHD son, is now in a master's program in college and doing very well. Yes, follow what God says to you, do not succomb to the homeschooling parent peer pressure to do what all the other homeschooling parents near you are doing, unless of course, that is what God is calling you to do.
Sally J 06/12/2010 10:01:48
So appreciated this one too.
MIGNON B 06/10/2011 03:28:57
I have just started on the homeschooling journey - still in the decision-making process - and this was exactly what I needed to read and pray today, thanks!
CJ M 06/10/2011 05:15:24
Thank you for the daily encouragement! We are preparing for our fourth year of homeschooling. I understand how overwhelming it is in the beginning. We all want to do what is best for our children. If we go to God first, and follow his prompting, we will inevitably make better decisions.
AMANDA M 06/10/2011 14:38:16
Heading into our first year of homeschooling this was great to read!! Thanks!
WENDY E 06/10/2012 04:53:33
I love these daily devotions. We are heading into our 13th year of homeschooling, and this is exactly what I needed to read today. The peer pressure never seems to stop. We must be in daily communication with our Father to hear His plans for our children. God loves us and our children so much more than we can comprehend. We just need to be still and listen to His wisdom.
BECKY J 06/10/2012 05:32:59
I have been homeschooling for 14 years now. I have six children the Lord has blessed me with. This devotional has proven to be ture in my life....Be very careful to whom you rely on for advice...I have many close friends and mentors in the homeschooling circle...and have received much advice through the years...But the best advice I EVER received was from those that told me to seek God\'s face and his perfect will FOR MY FAMILY...not someone elses...I cannot stress this enough...Pray and ask God\'s will for your homeschooling journey...rest in HIM alone...confusion is of devil...he wants to destroy your confidence so you will quit homeschooling..God will give you all the wisdom and resources you need...PRAY IS JUST AS BIG AS GOD IS!
KATHY S 06/10/2012 06:15:01
I just got some \"unwanted advice\" from my best friend the other day.
She means so well, but, the fact that she knows my son has\" Aspergers Syndrome\", still she\'s remiding/pushing \"why aren\'t we in one of those Homeschool groups, he needs to socialize\".
I finally lost my temper, just a little bit. I was firm, but tried to explain that following an actual Psychiartrists advice to Homeschool, then the Dr. said that My son will be the way he is and in his time, he will improve somewhat socially. The Dr. said not to \"push\", as my freind was suggesting, and doing, but to be patient and it all would work out.
Our Psychiatrist\'s son actually had Aspergers syndrome as well (God placed us with the right person). So, I knew I was getting good advice, and I believe this woman was a Christian as well.
Unfortunatley, she left her practice here and moved 400 miles away to do very good work that she was convicted in her heart to do.
Now we are left without a Doctor. Finally after 5 months I have made an appointment with another Doctor, Please pray that the recptionist (also a Christian) who helped me choose, helped me find the one we were meant to have.
I really got off track there, sorry. Anyway, I believe that God is the best one to ask, and sometimes when we just can\'t hear him loud enough (like me) he\'ll send some fellow Christians your way to help with guidance. Sometimes others will just \"chime\" in with their well intentioned advice or orders, like my friend, then you have to ignore and move on to the next subject.
julie poling 06/13/2013 14:25:56
This will be my first year homeschooling and I'm not sure of math. It's not a good subject for me. Are there any resources for 7th grade and up? Choosing what schedule, 4 day school week, or 3 month on 1 month off, homeschooling is so flexible. I love what you do and Jesus will show you through. I am going to take it year by year and continue to pray that the Lord will find a way. God bless you, and happy homeschooling.