“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36
I was writing this passage in Mark out this morning and it struck me as very relevant to the education of our children.
Jesus was working with His disciples and teaching them many things. He was letting them know that they would suffer in this world but not to worry. He wanted them to be reassured that the gain of this world was nothing compared to the gain of eternal life.
This had me thinking about the all-consuming drive we have in our nations today. Our goals have become skewed even as Christians as all we think about it educating our children.
I don’t believe ALL gains in this world are bad but to what end are we chasing them?
Education is a HUGE source of revenue in our nation today. There is over $1 trillion that comes in from all governments (federal, state, local) for education. Public schools spend on average over $21,000 per student in a year. And yet, their education is sorely lacking. Not only their education but now we have taken them away from family influences for hours a day. Influences that could have some spiritual good in their lives.
But leaving statistics behind, what can I, as a homeschool mother, dwell on when it comes to the education of Melanie?
I believe that one CANNOT have too much of a good thing.
That “good thing” here in our home is godly education and instruction. Thing about the amount of hours we parents have when our kids are homeschooled. Hours that we can influence them for good or bad. Wouldn’t we rather pour as much spirituality into them as possible?
This doesn’t mean cramming godliness down their throats. However, if we take the time to plan their education around God’s Word then we are teaching them to delve into His Word for life’s answers.
I’ve talked a lot in my articles about Notgrass History. Theirs is filled with Scripture and relating everything about this world back to God and how it fits into His Word. An excellent education to give any child on how our world came to be and the history that followed from Creation until today.
Another way I can help Melanie see the spiritual side of life daily is through her English course. Right now we are making our way through English classes called, “I Can Learn Grammar.” This was a course my mother developed over the years. She loves English. It was her major in college. We grew up learning to speak English properly. She taught us how to diagram (something Melanie and I are reviewing these days). My mother showed me the importance of know parts of speech and types of sentences. But, how does she relate that to God’s Word?
My mother wrote this curriculum for elementary grades.
She uses Bible verses as part of the study questions. For example, yesterday, Melanie was studying about imperative sentences. She had a list of sentences in which she was asked to find the imperative word. They were all from Scripture. I Thessalonians 5 has many imperative sentences. “Pray without ceasing.” “Quench not the Spirit.”
Some may say, well they can learn English via sentences like, “Don’t jump in the creek.” But, if we want to show our children how to rely on God’s Words for daily living, what better way than to hide His Word in their hearts.
Having English classes where Melanie has to find the imperative words in the Scriptures gives ME, as the Mom, the jumping off point to talk to her about how we can pray daily conversations with God. I can show her how sin in her life can quench (stop) the Holy Spirit’s working in her. If you’d like more information on my mother’s curriculum; email me: jgeoffrion@hotmail.com.
Weaving Scripture into their lives cements it in their mind and they will take these verses into their adulthood. Teaching biblically is not being pious but spiritual. There is a difference!
