PineFarmMom Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 I have a box under my bed with books, print-outs, articles, etc., that encourage me with motherhood and homeschooling. This is something I printed from these boards a couple of years ago and it had such an impact on my view of things. I cry every time I read it. Tracy in KY wrote it, and I think I will have it always. For whatever reason, it is something God uses to remind me often of why I'm doing what I'm doing. I found it again and want to post it, for whoever needs the words, the reminder, maybe the fresh outlook! I think it's good for new homeschool moms especially! ********************************************* I am training my children in the way they should go. I am teaching them when I rise up and when I lay down and when I walk. I am teaching them that everything they do must be honorable to God and to His glory. I am training them to think biblically and to memorize scripture and to analyze culture in the light of scripture. I am teaching them that they must prefer God, and that taking the gospel to the nations is glorifying to God. I am teaching them that the glory of God is the point of the universe. I teach them that they must master grammar because language is the medium through which God gave us His word. If they are to correctly understand the Word of God, they must understand grammar. The Word of God is comprised of words and phrases and clauses and nouns and verbs and indirect objects and past tense verbs and present tense verbs and modifiers. They must master this so that they know what God has said. Further, in order to take the gospel to others we must be able to articulate it in the language we are speaking. Grammar exists for God. I teach them that they must become good spellers so that they can communicate the gospel clearly when writing. Spelling exists for God. I teach them Greek so that they can read God's word in the language He communicated it so that they do not have to rely on other people to tell them what it says. I want them to read it for themselves in the original language, understanding all the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances in syntax and grammar and word meaning and logic so that they know what it says for themselves, because they have seen it for themselves in the language given by God. Therefore they can worship over God s Word and communicate clearly and with confidence to others what God has said. Greek exists for God. I teach them history as God's working out of his plan in the universe, to His glory and for His purposes, thereby teaching them about their awesome God who frustrates the plans of the nations and sets up kings and deposes kings and wages war and determines history. My children are being taught that God rules sovereignly over history that nothing in history happens apart from the sovereign rule and purpose of God. As they see their God more clearly, they love Him more dearly and become jealous to see His name proclaimed among the nations. History exists for God. I teach them logic as God's design for correct thinking and reasoning, so they can think clearly and reason well. If they are trained in correct thinking and reasoning then they can see better the beauty of the mind of their God as it is revealed in scripture. And then, as they take the gospel to others, they will not be mislead by false doctrine. They will see through the humanistic mechanisms of our culture. They will understand better how to explain the truth of God in the face of the depraved and distorted thinking that so characterizes the world we live in. By teaching them logic, I am teaching them to protect themselves AND to better reason with those who are deceived. Logic exists for the glory of God. I teach them science and math so that they can see the hand of God in the order and precision by which He has created the universe. The heavens proclaim the glory of God, but it is so easily suppressed. Naturalistic thinking pervades even the Christian church and God is ignored. By teaching science and math as a glorious picture of the stunning capability of the mind of God, His glory stands forth to my children. We rejoice over our God, and they are thereby more bold in proclaiming his name to their friends and family. This is glorifying to God. Science and Math cannot be correctly understood apart from their relationship to God. Science and math exist for God. I teach them Bible. We read the Bible, we ask questions of the Bible, we memorize Bible, we write about Bible--outlining, dictation, etc., we read commentaries and look at maps and check atlases of Bible lands and compare scripture with scripture and interpret our lessons through the Bible. We learn about missionaries and other countries and understand why we need to take the gospel to the nations. We apply Bible to our own culture and try to understand our culture in the light of scripture. The Bible is the backbone of what we do. Children who are biblically saturated are salt and light. Bible exists for the glory of God. I teach them literature--lots of different stories, biographies, missionary stories, fantasies, etc. Much of this is secular in nature. Why is this important? Because they need to be able to filter everything through the lens of scripture. We take the books that don't mention God, and point out God's absence in the book. This is so crucial God is absent in our culture. This is one of the major sins of Romans 1--they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer. He is simply pushed aside from virtually all television, radio, movies, books, cartoons, children's books, our schools, the work place--He is absent. And this is horrifying and God-belittling and is the epitome of sin. But most people hardly realize it. I want my children to see it and thereby be inoculated against it. I want them to acknowledge God. So, we look at God's absence and talk about it, and we bring God into it. Take Pippi Longstocking--God is absent in Pippi-Longstocking. I do not want my daughter thinking that it is ever okay to conceive of God being absent anywhere, so we bring scriptural truths to bear on stories about Pippi-Longstocking, for example. Literature exists for God. The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are to look at what is not seen. I want to train my children to look at Jesus--all the time. I want to train them to see God, to be passionate for His glory, and to permeate their lives with Christ and His truths. Children who prefer God are salt and light. Children who prefer God are beacons testifying to His glory. So that is what I am doing to cause my children to be salt and light to a dark world. I want them to be articulate, God-centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-minded, Spirit-led, highly-educated people who are willing to go to the hardest places on earth and lay down their lives for the nations who have not heard. I want them to treasure Christ more than they treasure their own lives, and in doing so bring glory to God as the world looks on and considers Jesus as valuable because they see my children preferring Him over life itself. And I am pouring out my life to that end--in raising and training the children that God has entrusted to me, for His glory. I will answer to Him for my stewardship of the children He has given me. More than anything I want Him to say, Well done. ****************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 I am going to print it out too. What a great reminder. Thanks for posting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Printing!!! Reps to you!! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i.love.lucy Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Wow. Coming from a newbie homeschooler, these words will be precious to me. Thank you so much for having saved that, for thinking today of sharing it, and to Tracy who originally wrote it. Many blessings to you both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Wow and amen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolash Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thank you for sharing! I need a reminder sometimes of why I'm doing what I'm doing. This is great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen in OH Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 It is just the encouragement that I needed. Thanks-a-bunch, Helen in OH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loupelou Posted June 20, 2009 Share Posted June 20, 2009 Wow! Mighty words for a mighty purpose. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 Now that was a sweet thread to open! I'm glad my article is encouraging to others. (It needs major editing. Somebody fix it! lol) I need to remind myself also of why I do what I do. It is so easy to lose the big picture in the mire of details and whatever is urgent at the time. Hugs, Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peek a Boo Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I printed that out way back when too :) Thanks Tracy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 Thanks, from a newbie homeschooling mama! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I printed that way back when, too.:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Now that was a sweet thread to open! I'm glad my article is encouraging to others. (It needs major editing. Somebody fix it! lol) I need to remind myself also of why I do what I do. It is so easy to lose the big picture in the mire of details and whatever is urgent at the time. Hugs, Tracy Tracy, I took you at your word about the editing, and I sincerely hope I don't offend you by sharing what I did! I thought this post too beautiful and noble to leave un-edited. The post under this one will contain a corrected version, if you care to use it in any way. If you would like me to take it down and let your original post stand on its own merit, then I will be happy to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dulcimeramy Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 (edited version) I train my children in the way they should go. I teach them when I rise up and when I lay down and when I walk. I teach them that everything they do must be honorable to God and to His glory. I train them to think biblically, to memorize scripture, and to analyze culture in the light of scripture. I teach them to prefer God. I teach them that taking the gospel to the nations is glorifying to God. I teach them that the glory of God is the point of the universe. I teach them to master grammar, because language is the medium through which God gave us His word. If they are to correctly understand the Word of God, they must understand grammar. The Word of God is comprised of words and phrases and clauses and nouns and verbs and indirect objects and past tense verbs and present tense verbs and modifiers. Knowledge of grammar will enable my children to understand what God has said. Further, we cannot take the gospel to others unless we are able to articulate it in the language of the hearer. Grammar exists for God. I teach them that they must become good spellers so that they can communicate the gospel clearly in writing, without confusing or distracting the reader with errors. Spelling exists for God. I teach them Greek so they can read God's word in the language He used to share it. I teach them Greek so they will not have to rely on other people to tell them what the Word says. I want them to read it for themselves in the original language, understanding all the subtle and not-so-subtle nuances of syntax, grammar, word meaning and logic. I want them to see the Word for themselves, in the language given by God. They will be able to worship over God’s Word. They will be able to communicate to others what God has said, with clarity and confidence. Greek exists for God. I teach them that history is the story of God working His plan in the universe, to His glory and for His purposes. I teach them about their awesome God who frustrates the plans of the nations and sets up kings and deposes kings and wages war and determines history. My children are being taught that God claims sovereign rule over history, and that nothing in the world happens apart from the sovereign rule and purpose of God. As they see their God more clearly, they love Him more dearly and become jealous to see His name proclaimed among the nations. History exists for God. I teach them logic as God's design for correct thinking and reasoning, so they can think clearly and reason carefully. If they are trained in correct thinking and reasoning, they will really see the beauty of the mind of God as it is revealed in scripture. As they take the gospel to others, they will not be misled by false doctrine. They will see through the humanistic mechanisms of our culture. They will understand how to explain the truth of God in the face of depraved and distorted thinking which is so prevalent in our culture. By teaching them logic, I am teaching them to think for themselves and to reason with those who are deceived. Logic exists for God. I teach them science and math so that they can see the hand of God in the order and precision of the universe which He has created. The heavens declare the glory of God, but man ever strives to suppress that glory. Naturalistic thinking pervades and God is ignored. Science and Math cannot be correctly understood apart from their relationship to God. I teach science and math as a glorious picture of the stunning capability of the mind of God, and His glory stands forth to my children. We rejoice over our God, and my children are made bold to proclaim His name and glorify Him. Science and math exist for God. I teach them the Bible. We read the Bible, we ask questions of the Bible, we memorize the Bible, and we write about the Bible. We read commentaries and study Bible atlases. We compare scripture with scripture, and interpret all of life through the Bible. We learn about the work of missionaries and why we must take the gospel to the nations. We apply the Bible to our own culture and try to understand our own nation in the light of scripture. The Bible is the backbone of all we do. Children who are biblically saturated are salt and light. The Bible exists for God. I teach them literature. We read so many different stories, biographies, missionary stories, fantasies, and more. Much of our reading is secular in nature, because I want my children to be able to filter everything through the lens of scripture. We point out God’s absence in books that never mention Him. This is so crucial because God is often absent in our culture. In the first chapter of the book of Romans, we see a people who committed the grievous sin of failing to acknowledge God. The same sin is pervasive in our culture today. God is casually pushed aside in television, radio, movies, books, cartoons, children's books, schools, the work place--He is absent. This is horrifying and God-belittling and the epitome of sin. It seems that most people barely notice the absence of God, but I want my children to acknowledge God and notice when He is missing. So, we look at God's absence and talk about it, and we shine the light of God into the dark places. We did this with books about Pippi Longstocking. God is nowhere in those books. I do not want my daughter to think that it is ever okay to leave God out, so we open our Bibles and discuss the adventures of Pippi through the lens of scriptural truth. Literature exists for God. The Bible tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. We are to look at what is invisible. I want to train my children to look at Jesus all the time. I want to train them to see God, to be passionate for His glory, and to permeate their lives with Christ and His truths. Children who prefer God are salt and light. Children who prefer God are beacons in a dark world, testifying to His glory. This is what I am doing to teach my children to be salt and light in the world. I want them to be articulate, God-centered, Bible-saturated, Christ-minded, Spirit-led, highly-educated people who are willing to go to the hardest places on earth and lay down their lives for the nations who have not heard. I want them to treasure Christ more than they treasure their own lives. They will bring glory to God as the world sees them preferring Him to life itself, and some in the world will consider the value of Christ because they have seen my children glorify Him. I am pouring out my life in raising and training these children for His glory. I will answer to Him for my stewardship of the children He has entrusted to me. More than anything I want to hear Him to say, “Well done.†Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Wow, I missed this the first time around. Thanks so much for reposting it. What a wonderful reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prudent Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 Thanks Tracy for writing this & Teresa for re-posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Hey Tracy, Bumping your post to say that when I read it on a blog... I thought... "That's the inspirational piece I need to read at our next CC Day." Do you mind?? I'm not sure if you'll see this... I'd like the original thread... but... this one will do:-) Thanks! Carrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Wow, I have been here a long, long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalicoKat Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Thank you. I'm placing a copy of this in my Happy Place today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 Need to copy that :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 2, 2010 Share Posted January 2, 2010 :DI've had this copied out and in my bedroom where I can look at it for a while now (I was here for the original, too!). I always think of you, Tracy, as the "cow lady!" That is you, isn't it? The one with the cow? I get so confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereks mom Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I needed it today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Thank you! I needed this today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal in VA Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 I love it! I printed it out when it was originally posted and saved it in a notebook...somewhere.:glare: Thanks for posting it! I really needed to be reminded of all those things.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Tracy, I took you at your word about the editing, and I sincerely hope I don't offend you by sharing what I did! I thought this post too beautiful and noble to leave un-edited. The post under this one will contain a corrected version, if you care to use it in any way. If you would like me to take it down and let your original post stand on its own merit, then I will be happy to do so. Lol! That is fine! It really needed work! Now people can choose which version they prefer! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hey Tracy, Bumping your post to say that when I read it on a blog... I thought... "That's the inspirational piece I need to read at our next CC Day." Do you mind?? I'm not sure if you'll see this... I'd like the original thread... but... this one will do:-) Thanks! Carrie That is fine! Use it however you wish :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 :DI've had this copied out and in my bedroom where I can look at it for a while now (I was here for the original, too!). I always think of you, Tracy, as the "cow lady!" That is you, isn't it? The one with the cow? I get so confused. Ha--yes, I am the cow lady. And the pig lady. And the...well, you get the picture. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy in Ky Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Just thought I would mention that I wrote the original version in response to an accusation on another (religiously oriented) message board. They were challenging my decision to homeschool--suggesting that my children were not being taught to be salt and light because I don't have them in public schools. I still remember that night, sitting on my bed, fingers flying over my laptop keyboard, adrenaline pulsing...;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MommyOwl Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Thank you, Tracy, for your inspirational words :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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