You Shall Teach Them

You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
Duet. 11:19-21

Many times, I have heard people contemplate the question of whether or not they should homeschool. There seems to be this question in the back of people's minds as to whether it is the right decision. The desire of the people to do it is so many times overridden by fear of failing or the expectations of what the world thinks they should do. Being the father of a family that is second generation homeschooled and getting ready for the third generation to start homeschooling in the near future, I have found that The LORD gave the answer to His people over 3000 years ago. That same truth still applies today. "You shall teach them to your children." The command of God to the Israelites said that YOU are the one responsible. The command tells them, "When you are sitting in your house, when you are walking by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise." It seems to me that The LORD wants YOU to realize His plan for educating your children. Being a multigenerational homeschooler, I understand why The LORD gave that command. It is to set in our minds how our actions affect future generations. When we take that responsibility, we take our focus off of us and on to things that are eternal.

I can tell you that as a father that works outside of the home, one of my favorite things is when I get to have a day off and do school with my kids. But school is more than just teaching them to read and do math. It goes beyond books and worksheets. Educating them takes place at all times of life. Everybody has the ability to teach their children. The LORD commanded them to teach them as you are sitting in your house, walking along the way, when you lie down, and when you get up. There is not a single time of day when there is not a teaching opportunity, and with that opportunity comes the ability to build a stronger family. The passage above ends with a promise for those who step up to take that responsibility. "...that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied." There is a reward for those who take that responsibility.

I have never heard a person say at the end of their life that they regretted spending too much time with their children. There is no better way to spend time with your children and strengthen your family than by taking the time to teach them. Is it always easy? No. Is it rewarding? Always. Is there a promised reward from The LORD for those who do?Yes.

So, is homeschooling for you? The answer is, yes. It is possible. It is rewarding. To those who are afraid of not meeting the expectations of the world, don't worry about what the world thinks. It is falling apart. As far as following the plan of God, I've never seen it fail.

Now that we are preparing for the third generation to homeschool, I'm doubling down on it. It is worth every second of investment, because it has had generational payoffs for us. Looking back on my own journey from being homeschooled to now, I am thankful that my parents made that decision. There is a reward for following the plan that God set forth. As for my family, we will testify that The LORD had a pretty good plan all along.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 ESV