Fighting for Truth in a World Full of Lies
This past year was my first year to homeschool my children. It’s had many ups and downs and I may almost give ups but it has proven to be one of the best decisions I have made. I have always wrestled with the desire to stay home and the desire to have a career and feel “successful.” I earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and have felt the need to own and use it some way by having a career. For much of my two older kid’s lives they were in daycare and also at public school for a couple years. I also went into teaching at the same school my children attended and did enjoy it to an extent. I met many great people and students but also ran into things I wouldn’t want my children exposed to.
I taught 5th grade and some of the conversations and language I heard were like from the mouths of 11th graders. When I would hear these conversations I thought about my own children in their classrooms and having no control over who is in their class for the rest of their school career. No control over curriculum, no control over teacher’s beliefs or views they may be pushing, and no control over peer pressure situations my children aren’t ready for.
School is just one small place where the world has infiltrated with its lies. Social media, Disney, advertisements, books, and pretty much everywhere you look there are lies and deception being portrayed. As parents, we are to protect our children from these lies and point them to Truth.
God has called parents to raise and teach their children each and every day. It isn’t something we can let the schools do or hope the church does. I was guilty of not pouring into my kids spiritual lives because I was so busy working and they were worn out from school that we would just collapse and not be intentional when we would get home from school. I wasn’t making time to feed them God’s Word regularly because I was relying on the Church too much.
Deuteronomy 6 has a lot to say about teaching our children. Deut. 6: 7-9 “6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, 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. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Each and every day we are to teach truth to our children, speak freely about God’s Word, and have reminders throughout our households of who it is we serve.
I have seen a drastic change in my children since we began homeschooling. They are memorizing scripture and asking questions that we wouldn’t otherwise have the time for in a traditional school setting with me working. I have had conversations with them that I treasure because they are interested and desiring to know more. We listen to worship music most of the day and they are singing songs freely and memorizing the music. God has captured their hearts because we are choosing Him and seeking His Truth throughout our days.
I’m thankful for this season we have been able to enter into. I have grown as a mother and learned so much about my own walk, my own selfishness, and how my children can hold me accountable. I have learned to enjoy being at home and raising my babies because I won’t always have them in my home. They will one day move on and be adults that need to know the truth to combat the lies Satan is throwing in this world. I want them to be armed and ready to fight, to serve others, and to love God with all of their hearts.
If you aren’t able to homeschool, consider adding in a new routine of scripture memorization each week while on the way to school, have family devos regularly, and ask your children questions that are faith related. Be involved at church and find children’s books that may spark interest and help them grow their faith. Have a support team in place that also pour into your children. The beautiful thing is there are so many ways to share truth and instill values into our kids. Praying for your children is one of the most important things you can do. God will bless your efforts in sharing his love and truth and guide you each step of the way.
