Abundant Life. Abundant Homeschool.
Yesterday I shared two of my core beliefs about education:
- The purpose of education is to prepare children for life.
- Homeschooling is the best way I know to prepare children for life without having to put life on hold while you do.
Jesus once talked about His sheep and about the thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy them. By contrast, Jesus said:
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
Children deserve an abundant childhood with abundant opportunities to learn and abundant opportunities to be children. Sometimes education steals childhood, kills curiosity, and destroys joy. It’s tempting for homeschooling mamas to let fear and peer pressure push them into doing those very things.
I’d like to share ten ideas for an abundant homeschool, ideas that celebrate childhood, nourish curiosity, and nurture joy:
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and teach your children to do the same.
- Make your children feel like the most loved children in the world.
- Find out what fascinates your children and give them opportunities to explore those interests.
- Get out of the house. Spend time in God’s creation and explore wonderful places near and far.
- Teach your children to love others and give them opportunities to show it in concrete ways.
- Choose curriculum that your children enjoy.
- Provide lots of great books and time in your children’s schedule to read them and to listen to their parents read them.
- Cultivate a loving family both in your home and with your children’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- Count time in “extra-curricular” activities as “school” time.
- Live a life of joy and service and purpose and faith that your children can emulate.
Only Jesus can give abundant life and everlasting joy. The wise homeschooling mama introduces her children to Him and keeps the most important things first in the precious days and years of their childhoods.
Now to Him who is able to do
far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
according to the power that works within us,
to Him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus to all generations
forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I think I often focus on responsibilities and not nourishing the heart, joy, & curiosity. I want to make my children feel like the most loved children in the world. I so look forward to reading your encouragement! It is always life giving, and therefore worthy of reading. Thank you!
Jenny
Thank you, Jenny. Your comment was such sweet encouragement. Thank you very much.