One of the most precious resources parents have is time. Living life together is a great blessing and a great opportunity. Our children have one childhood made of precious days, hours, and minutes. One privilege we have as homeschoolers is the choice of how to spend that valuable time.
We and our children need good examples to imitate. Our best example is Jesus. Our next best examples are others who follow Him. Spending time together gives parents opportunities to be some of those good examples.
Let your children hear your gracious reply to a harried grocery clerk. Let them see you honoring their grandmother with help around her house. Take them along when you donate food to a local food pantry or go to the courthouse to pay your property taxes. Let them walk beside you as you walk in the light. Give them a picture of everyday life in the service of God. Live a life of joy and service and purpose and faith that your children can emulate.
Homeschooling is an opportunity to write God’s Word on your children’s hearts daily. God’s wisdom can be part of writing assignments, memory work, history, geography, literature, and any other component of their education.
Homeschooling parents have a unique opportunity to develop their children’s creative gifts, rather than fitting them in if there is time. You can inspire your children to excel at whatever gifts God has given them and train them to honor Him through those gifts.
Jesus spent His days walking with, eating with, talking to, and praying with His disciples. You have that same opportunity to spend precious hours with your children. As you seek to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, you can teach your children to do that, too.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might.
These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.
You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way
and when you lie down and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NASB