We Homeschool Not Because We are Stronger

Challies has been talking about homeschooling, and it is always interesting for me, living in a country where homeschooling (Mexico) is practically non existent, to see from "afar" all the debates and divisions that this subject brings.

We are a passionate homeschooling family, and in the first years of our homeschooling journey I thought every Christian should homeschool their children, and I was hard on those who didn't; thank God I have learned some grace, today I don't dare to speak against those who send their children to schools (either Christians or not), because as I see my children walking in the ways of the Lord I can not say that it is because "we have done all things right" that they are godly. No, we know that it is because it has pleased God to give our children a heart for Him. It is grace, all grace. Homeschooling is not the way to God; nor the way to be saved, nor the way to secure that our children will grow in grace. Salvation belongs to the Lord, not to the homeschooling families.

We homeschool our children not because we are stronger; maybe it is because we are weaker. Maybe it is because we want to *do* something to ensure that our kids will walk upright. It is a great danger, if we think that because we are a homeschooling family, we will in turn, see godly results in our children. God forbid! It is not by what we do or not do, it is because it pleases Him to bring our children to Him.

I am not stronger because I am a homeschool mom. In fact, these past 10 years, I have seen in my own life how weak I am. How much I weary and wander. Teaching our children to walk in the ways of the Lord is a gigantic task, one not suitable for those who claim to be strong, but for those who are weak and dare to say "Lord, this seems impossible, how can I do this? Come, help me! I depend on you." 

I remember how our story began; our oldest (who is going to College this fall) was 8 years old, he was attending a private school (not Christian) and was a happy boy with many friends, and very good grades. But we were not happy with the things they were teaching him; so that summer my Beloved and I talked about homeschooling, we prayed, and cried. We did not know anything about homeschooling. There were no homeschool book fairs, or support groups or co-ops. We were two weak people asking God to help us raise our kids in His Word.

One night as I was crying and praying, the Lord reminded me of a passionate prayer of my youth: "Lord, use my life. I want to serve you full time. I want to change lives" I knew this was the answer to that prayer. So this weak couple, with trembling knees, began a journey that has become the most rewarding one; the most delightful one; the journey in which over and over again we have seen how when we are weak He is strong.

Because of His amazing grace,