The Proof Is in the Pudding
Posted in Daily Focus on Tuesday, January 21, 2014
I take a strong stand in the beliefs I hold about homeschooling. Perhaps after 25 years of educating my children at home, I have earned the right to stand on my soap box and state clearly why I know homeschooling works. I know it works because my children have proved it works. They have graduated from college with honors, they know how to socialize, and they are able to function well in the work world and their communities. More importantly, each of them knows the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and the truths of His Word.
Anyone is capable of teaching his children at home if he really wants. I have found that if you really want to follow the Lord and do what He asks, He will even overcome homeschooling obstacles like being a single parent, financial limitations, or a physical handicap. As God's Word says in Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Are you questioning today whether or not to continue homeschooling? Perhaps you are in your first or second year of schooling and thinking, "Maybe there's something better that I could be doing with my life." I encourage you to remain faithful in homeschooling. You are making a difference in this world. You're loving your family and teaching them to follow Christ. Your purpose for being a homeschooling parent is treasured by God. The rewards will come, but you must be faithful. Don't give up! "Therefore, my beloved (homeschoolers), be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Jesus, just getting through this homeschooling day, let alone this year, seems like an enormous task. Please, empower me again by the Holy Spirit to stand firm in what You have shown me to do. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Comments(32 comments)
ANITA G 01/21/2009 10:32:24
we homeschooled our oldest daughter all the way through 12th grade and then she was accepted into nursing school. we homeschooled our son until 9th grade and then opted for private school because i wanted the easy way out. now, at the beginning of his 2nd semester in 11th grade the Lord has shown us clearly that we are to finish at home. thank you for your encouraging words to a mom who is starting over in the homeschool arena again.
anita
MARIA G 01/21/2009 15:37:00
Thank you so much for the encouragement and admonishment. It clearly mentioned "single parenting," which is what I have always seen as a barrier in homeschooling. I have even given up and sent my daughter back to public school. I am so grateful for the Lord and His people as we seek the great and wonderful calling of homeschooling.
GLORIA H 01/21/2010 08:10:05
Gracias a Dios por este devocional que es de aliento para nosotros que vivimos en Mexico, educamos en casa a nuestros 3 hijos y no convivimos con nadie mas en nuestra ciudad que est con el mismo proposito y corazon. Pero con gozo veo que coicidimos en las mismas pruebas y experiencias, en Cristo realmente somos un cuerpo! El Senor los bendiga.
Gloria
GLORIA H 01/21/2010 08:15:24
Thank God for this devotional Which is encouragement for us who live in Mexico, educate our 3 children at home and not we live with nobody ms est in our city that the same purpose whatsoever and heart. It but with joy I see that coicidimos in the same tests and experiences in Christ we really are a body! The Mr bless them.
Gloria
TRULLY M 01/21/2011 01:17:30
What an encouragement! as I waken up this morning at 2 am, trying to figure out if I should continue homeschooling my boys. I felt so inadequate and the job is so difficult. but I am being assured that We can do all things through Christ who strengthen me. and who can be against us when God is for us as in Romans 8:31.
I do have have fear for my boys future life. What kind of career and income they will be able to make? and so many other things....
but yet I should just be thankful that God's Love through Christ is sufficient.
He will provide and make ways for my life and my children's future.
Trully Mason
LISSA Y 01/21/2011 01:32:25
I woke up this morning like most mornings with this feeling of doubt... should I listen to others and put them back into public/private school. We have been homeschooling for 5 years now. I know they are learning, but with the constant moving around I don't know if I;m doing the right thing for them. I pray a lot and I am staying in the word. I can see things happening in my family. God has truly blessed me to be able to teach my children and see them grow spiritually as well as academically. Long story short. I just wanted to say that this is the devotion I was really meant to read this morning at 3 am. I'm glad that others have been in the same boat and remain steadfast . Thank you! May God continue to bless each one of you. Have a wonderful day in the Lord!
PAMELA A 01/21/2011 04:05:19
This came at the perfect time for us. We have only been homeschooling a year & had a major discussion yesterday with our daughter about continuing. She chose to continue homeschooling which was our desire completely. We also have doubts but always remember in the back of our hearts & minds that we wouldn't be doing this if someone hadn't pushed us in this direction. Devine intervention!!!!
JUDY J 01/21/2011 05:41:06
Today is the last day of public school for our 14yo son. After homeschooling him since 2nd grade, we decided he needed a wake-up call so we sent him to the local high school. Today he finishes mid-term exams. He has excelled in all classes except Algebra (he's always struggled with math). Although this semester has been easier on me, and I've been able to spend more time homeschooling my 10yo daughter, I know that it is time to bring my son home. Thank you for today's encouragement to continue the work the Lord has given me, instead of taking the easy way out.
JOY S 01/21/2011 08:32:03
After homeschooling my children to become successful, God fearing adults, I retired from homeschooling two years ago when the last of 8 was 18. One of my grandsons was struggling with school and kept asking me to homeschool him. As I became more and more concerned about his being insulted and bullied by teachers and his low self-esteem, I realized that being a homeschool mom is a lifelong career. I will paraphrase 1 John 3:17
But whoso hath [the ability], and seeth [her grandson] have need, and shutteth up her bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
LAURA S 01/21/2011 08:45:10
After homeschooling my boys for 5 yrs, I felt that I was no longer able to help my youngest son. Our personalities just clashed, I thought. He wasn't learning like my other son, and I felt that I was doing him more harm than good. After many weeks of praying and crying before the Lord, I chose to place them into the public school system. The next fall that is what I did, and then got a job at the school myself. I watched the teachers and the students very closely. I also watched my Michael have the same struggles he had at home. They labeled him with a disability and put him in special ed class for a short time each day. They are not helping him any more than I was, and I did it with love. I have had 4 teachers tell me that I should look into medicine for him, even though he isn't hyper, nor does he interrupt class. Needless to say this will be their last yr. in public school. I will be homeschooling with the greatest of expectations for their future. Sometimes you just have to see firsthand, to realize what is truly right. Thank you for your daily inspirations :)
Jody F 01/21/2011 09:03:59
Never do I let a day go by without telling the Lord how grateful I am to be able to homeschool my two children - how I pray that these children will choose to homeschool their own children someday. The blessings have far outweighed the obstacles - and there have been some big ones. I, too, have a child that they said could not be taught without meds, and today he is a shining example of one who can and does learn without them. May we never forget that what we feel we cannot do, we most certainly can do with the Lord's awesome power. Have a great day homeschooling!
MICHELLE S 01/21/2011 10:14:40
Thank you all for the encouragement! The past two weeks have been filled with ups and downs but mostly downs. I have given way to thoughts of quitting homeschooling but my heart aches at the thought. Today has been, by God's grace, a blessing. He gives me the strength to persevere and a multitude of counselors to encourage. Thank you, Lord.
LISA G 01/23/2011 06:07:33
This is our first year to homeschool and I know this is God's chosen way for my family. However, my husband struggles everyday with doubt and the fear of not having the ability the teach our own children. I thank you so much for the encouraging words and I also know the rewards are still to come. It is up to us as Christian Parents to protect, love, and teach our children in the ways of the Lord (DAILY). God Bless!
DAWN A 01/26/2011 12:43:31
Dawn A
Thank you so much for the words of encouragement. Lately, I feel as though I am not helping my family by homeschooling. I Just feel like I am not doing a good job. Thank you for encouraging me to continue. I appreciate you and your ministry. If there is a way to find homeschoolers in my area to communicate with and do activities with, how would I find it. Please Help.
JANET T 01/26/2011 13:23:52
Dawn - You can find a list of homeschooling groups here - http://www.aophomeschooling.com/homeschool-groups.php
RACHEAL S 01/28/2011 07:57:33
I homeschooled my older three for @ 10 yrs. Put in private school for six where I worked for six yrs. Regretted my decision and now am back to homeschooling our youngest.Iit has been challenging but we\'re doing well because God is for us. Thank-you for an encouraging word.
ROSE M 01/21/2012 06:15:53
I have been asking the Lord to direct me about homeschooling. I have homeschooled for 6 yrs and my two children want to go to public school for one year. I have been asking the Lord to show me his will and really wanting to trust Him. I feel that sometimes He gives us what we want in order for us to see that it is not what we need. I know they are getting a great education at home, but they think they are missing something. Thank you for this reminder of the importance of homeschooling.
PHYLLIS W 01/21/2012 07:50:01
I am a new home school mom and struggling too, finances make me wonder if I am making the right decision and I continue to give it up to GOD. Pray for my strength,
GLENDA M 01/21/2012 08:01:16
Thanks for this amazing words!! Really I need it!! God bless you all and have a great day!
MONA R 01/21/2012 10:31:39
Wow.. I am a former public school teacher on year 12 of homeschooling.. My husband was an instructor in the military and I do believe we were too particular (strict) in the beginning.. But we have grown with our child.. who is in 11th grade.
We even homeschooled some children from our church whose parent was ill for over a year. It was such an enlightening experience to work with someone elses children.
My son who has his own set of learning challenges.. spends more one on one time with his parents every single day than most youth in America spend with their parents every month
. Yes I have questioned our final outcome... but my son tests high and is happy. He is polite and people want him to be around them. Many of my friends who public school their children have rude teenagers and most of them spend endless hours every evening with homework and school projects.
One HS Mom mentioned cost.. When you struggle with costs compare the cost of top of the mark clothing or uniforms, school fees, endless fund raisers, fieldtrips, surprise costs that just pop up and for some child care... That makes our homeschooled kids a bargain and their typically better grounded young adults.
I am greatful to our Lord every single day that HE has shown me the way for both me and my husband to be able to homeschool our son and work too.. God is Good every day!!
Thank you for this daily inspiration. I dont typically write .. but so many seem to be struggling.. and this former public school teacher says.. you are doing the right thing! You are giving your child the most precious gift you could give them besides life and God.. you are giving them time with you and leaving a legacy to your grandchildren.. Keep up the good work!
DEANNA P 01/21/2012 12:42:52
Thank you. I felt I wasn\'t doing well enough with my daughter so she started public HS this fall. She\'s doing great, getting good grades, making friends, but I am depressed and feel so messed up over having her go to school. I am at home with my three younger children and we still have fun and are learning, but there is such a terrible sense that I should have taught her more, that she should score better than the rest. Everyone else, including my husband seems to think I did right by having her go to HS. Makes me think maybe I\'m inadequate. Feel so crazy. Please pray that I can discover the truth. I think my family is tired of my struggle. So am I, but I want to do what God wants me to do.
TABITHA J 01/21/2012 13:56:39
I want to be able to homeschool my kids when I have them, but the problem is that my husband has this expectation of me doing EVERYTHING: working full time (currently have a full time job and getting my home business up and running), do the chores around the house, and for the homeschooling route, he prefers that I do ALL of the teaching, while he sits around watching TV or playing video games, sleeping, in other words, acting like a 12 year kid. I really want to homeschool the kids and I think that the only way that I would be able to do it is for something that would encourage my husband to be responsible for the household instead of acting like a 12 year old kid. (I think that he acts immaturity because of being in foster care, going from one family to another, until his parents adopted him, and later on in residential treatment for some issues). Also, he prefers to send them to public school and he could barely do BASIC math. Please pray for my husband so that he can learn how to be responsible since we are planning to start our family either this year or next year.
EMERLINDA E 01/22/2012 00:09:18
This is my third year as a homeschool parent to a 3rd grade girl and 11th grade boy.
It\'s very encouraging to hear words from other homeschooling parents like you...
BETH M 01/21/2013 05:43:08
Please be careful about the proof of homeschooling. I have been homeschooling 15 years I have one in college and one who has lost her way. Does that mean I failed? Does that mean homeschooling failed? Does that mean I should quit homeschooling my younger 3 or change course? I homeschool in obedience to my Lord. I am learning to be thankful, to trust and obey Him regardless of the result.
01/21/2013 06:07:38
wow,thanks for the encouragement! I have 4 kids,2 of which are school age and are in public school. As of late we\'ve really felt the need to homeschool. iTs so scary to me,as i struggled in school myself. Thank you for helping me build my faith,that if God has called me to do this then he will equip me too!
ASBELL C 01/21/2013 06:45:10
We are homeschooling our 7, soon to be 8 (if God allows), children. My 20 year old son is the top in his classes in college. My 18 year old daughter graduated high school two years early and is also in the top of her classes. Not only are they excelling academically, but I am frequently (as in weekly) complimented on their character and behavior. Homeschooling with a godly focus for us was much like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego choosing to not eat from the king\'s table, but to follow the Lord\'s guidelines. The abundant fruit we see in our own spiritual growth, our marriage, family, and children has been/is worth the many sacrifices my husband and I have had to make.
BARB S 01/21/2013 08:08:02
Thank You for being so encouragaing! I homeschooled my daughter in2nd grade with AOP Life Packs, and when she would not do Math, we went back to a Charter School. The day of testing the principal came out to me, stating \"What have you done?\' I told him that I was homeschooling with AOP, he stated that I had done a remarkable job, and instead of putting my daughter into the 3rd grade, they were putting her in the 4th grade, because she had passed with flying colors the 3rd grade.
We then got into the Public School, due to health issues with an IEP, and from 5th grade on a group of girls have bullied her terribly.
She got into a bad accident March of 2013 being sexually raped, and within one hour a car hit her on her bicycle at a main intersection, the driver of the car lying to the police, with a Traumatic Brain Injury, a concussion, and the Public School would not grant her with a Medical Waiver, nor a home bound person, and I was literally going crazy!! After the PT, OT, and Speech Therapy at a main rehabilitation center ending in October, we then tried the Public free school online, with start up issues there (start date given Oct, 16, then Oct.14, their system crashed loosing 400 students, and then stated her start date with all students Sept. 18, 2013!) I then had to deal with a laptop that wasn\'t properly formatted, having had 2.5 years in IT, after the second CD, I then reformatted the laptop, with also being a retired Nurse of 40 years, also a Para pro. Due to being a month behind, no choice of ours, the school informed us, that they had dropped her last week. I called the school on their negligence, and my daughter came back to me, asking to be home schooled again with Alpha Omega Life Packs, due to memory loss of the accident of 3/11/2012, we have to start low, and go slow to figure out what she remembers. Due to the mood swings, she \"ran\" Sunday with \"peer pressure\", and it is extremely cold here in the elements. A friend called stating that she was texting from a friend\'s house, which I have reported to all Doctors, and appropriate people on our case. Please from my heart know that as the Bible states teaching a child while they grow up, and they will not leave their ways and/or path.
Due to
BARB S 01/21/2013 08:14:31
Due to stated above, to a new home schooling parent with an elementary student, 3rd and 5th grade are crucial, and teaching long versions of multiplication/division is crucial for future Math components, to learn Algebra, etc. Hint: Use graph paper, with the squares made larger to help the student learn to line up, in learning the long versions of multiplication/division.)
The Biblical concepts from AOP teach a student at all levels confidence, self esteem, and that alone fights peer pressures.
Know that you know, on a bad/sad day...\"Be still, pray, and know that I am God.\"
But under no circumstance give up schooling that child, as a parent you are their foundation in God, and in life.
KATHY S 01/21/2013 08:33:55
Just the simple \"PEACE\" that my son has since we started Homeschooling, is worth any stress that I may incur from trying to teach and maybe not being the best qualified Mom to do so.
For us, Public School= nightmare, Private school =nightmare, homeschool=Peace and Joy!
Be Blessed everyone!
LILLY S 01/21/2013 10:21:16
Thank you for this article today. This is our first year homeschooling two complicated girls who need my 100% attention, and help to learn to have a relationship with God. They were adopted after they were already in public school by my husband & I, and we continued the public education until I learned that they were not able to keep up socially. We did every kind of tutoring, and were in fact schooling them at home in support of what they were not learning during the school day. After years of frustration, we decided to home school this year. To say it's been a struggle is an understatement, but I can admit that I've learned so much more about them, and am bring them closer to scripture every day. The education is coming along despite all the social delays. I can see what an influence I have been in this short time this year, and only wish we started home schooling long ago. Any days that we have that are more difficult than others, which are most; I ask if we are doing the right thing by home schooling? God has given us this opportunity to raise the children he has chosen for us the best we can. This article could not have come at a better time. We all need the words of encouragement and faith in our God. Thank you for this article! It came at the perfect time for me today.
Kelly Sergent 01/21/2014 15:40:03
This is my first year of homeschooling. It has been such a struggle. My 10-year old is strong-willed and liked the social aspects of school. The school told my 6-year old son that he should repeat preschool for the 4th year in a row. That did it for me. At the end of last year, my son couldn't identify most letters. Today, he is reading.
While I know that both of my child are succeeding here at home, I still doubt myself. I have little patience and pray every day for more. And goodness knows my day was easier when I had it to myself. My house was actually clean.
I know God has called me to homeschool. I just have to keep reminding myself of this.
For the woman with the 12-year old acting husband, don't despair. My husband completely changed after we actually had children. That may be what your husband needs to gain a new perspective. Keep praying for God to work in his heart.
Angie Runyan 01/21/2015 18:43:52
The proof is in the pudding! As we homeschooled my oldest through high school I often worried about covering it all academically. He chose to work a lot during those years - dog walking, lawn care for neighbors, etc. There never seemed to be enough time to do it all with two younger children as well. Today our oldest is in his second year of taking college courses. He is a straight 'A' student so far, has been recruited as a peer mentor and is tutoring other students in math, a subject that I was not a very proficient teacher of. It is nice to share how well he is doing but the point really is to encourage and validate that homeschooling works. The opportunity to be with our children, to learn, to enjoy, to train is a priceless gift, for which I will always be grateful. Carry on homeschoolers, you are blessed.