Because Sometimes We Need A Reminder… {Encouragement for Homeschoolers}
When we first embarked on our homeschooling journey and made the decision to pull the kids out of public school, I was not scared but excited. That is, until about the third month into it. I started to feel weary, unappreciated, scared, and just lost. I prayed and I read blog after blog to find some encouragement. One night I came across a blog about homeschooling. This mother created and shared her mission statement. I was so inspired to create one, as I knew it would be something I could look at to be reminded of why we do what we do. I immediately started typing. It’s like rivers of living water were flowing from my finger tips. The Holy Spirit enabled me to come up with an amazing, encouraging, and powerful mission statement for my family. I feel compelled to share it with all of you. Feel free to use it for your household as well. Read it and make it personal. Receive the refreshing, renewing, and refueling breath of God and know you have what it takes to stay the course, through Him. I wrote this over a year ago, so enjoy and be blessed!
Homeschool Mission Statement
We homeschool, so God may be glorified in ALL we do. We choose to put Jesus Christ first in every aspect of our lives, and this includes academics. We do not homeschool simply for academics, as knowledge for the sake of knowledge is useless and completely in vain and leads to pride. We believe in learning and education as a lifestyle and that it should not be separated from anything else we learn in the home and in the church. We believe children should be free to explore their full potential, which includes mind, body and spirit. As parents we are called to be the main influences in our children’s lives, called to lead them, and are perfectly capable of teaching them all subjects.
In our homeschool, we will prepare the children academically, to be accepted into the best colleges worldwide. We will prepare the children for the mission field, evangelism, worship, and to live a consecrated and holy life. We will teach them to love God and to seek Him first in all they do. We will teach them to love their neighbor and to always be quick to forgive and not to judge. We will encourage them and push them to achieve high scores and amazing grades. We will not, however, allow their identity to be controlled by these high scores, but simply help them be the best they can be, while not comparing them to others. If they are straight A students, we will love them. If they are not straight A students but are exhibiting their best effort, we will love them. If they do or do not get into a prestigious college, we will love them still.
We have been called to this lifestyle, and when it gets hard, we are to remember His promises and that He always makes a way. We are raising up leaders, Godly men and women called to a life of holiness. Maintaining and instilling these values will not always be easy, but as a family, we will not stop and we will always pray for help and wisdom. No amount of money, no career ladder, or no high position, can ever pull us away from this calling. Our first ministry, job, and priority (after Jesus) is our family, our children. We encourage one another; we will be strong in our faith; we will not give up. Our life is a testament to God’s goodness and in all things we will be sure that He is glorified and that we are living the life of faith we have been called to.
And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13
And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6