Seed Wings
Proverbs 31 shows a mother who is dedicated to teaching her children God’s ways. For me, I have taken that to mean that I will homeschool. I believe that homeschooling is a great choice for the christian family who is stable, loving, and disciplined. I have had the good fortune to witness homeschooling work in such families.
At this time in our life as a family, we have made the difficult decision to put my six year old daughter into kindergarten and my three sons into parents day out two days a week. With all the health challenges I’m facing now, along with just being very weak, I have not been able to take care of myself, my unborn baby, and homeschool. I want my kids to be learning and growing each day.
I’m sure we will re-evaluate this decision often throughout their growing up, but for now, God has given me peace about my children through lessons from His Body, His Word, and through creation.
In being close to Mother’s Day, the topic of motherhood is being widely addressed now. Chuck Swindoll’s program today on motherhood really touched my heart. I remember two key things from the message: to have vision for my children and not to smother them. Focus on the Family had a guest speaker who spoke about a mother being as a manager of a team. She is the one with the game plan, the one who trains the players, and the one who disciplines those who just want to be bench warmers.
As I sat on my front porch last week, I observed the seeds falling from the tree in our front yard. The seed, about the size of a lemon seed, is encased and has a long, thin “wing” to one side. They are pretty and fun to fiddle with, but carry a greater purpose. If the seeds just dropped below the tree and grew in that place, then they would always be under the shade of the parent tree, as well as share the same water. Such a tree would never grow as big as the parent, for it would in fact be smothered. But if there was something to help carry the seed over a ways, then that tree would have plenty of sun, space, and water to grow big and strong, eventually providing shade of it’s own. Those little “wings” are just what is needed to catch the wind to freedom.
Now my daughter being only six, as I pondered these things, I resisted the idea that these truths applied to our life now. But later that day, my daughter asked me about the “seed wings”.
Okay, maybe.
Joy has a very strong personality, many gifts, and growing character. Maybe going to kindergarten is just what she needs to keep growing. And she is doing so well! And so are my sons!
The Proverbs 31 woman has maidens who help her. Thus, she has freedom herself to go about in business and ministry, all to the benefit of her husband and family. But, she always remains the children’s teacher. Maybe I can see school teacher’s as maidens. Though they will not be doing things the way I would, their primary job will be to teach language arts and math, etc., not knowing God. Jeff and I are envisioning now how it may be possible, that under these circumstances, I could be an even better teacher. I will not be overwhelmed, and may be able to give more focused attention, even to the end of the day when I usually peter out. And maybe they will learn from a better example, for I will not be so tired that I am easily frustrated.
Just a note of caution, I do believe along with James Dobson, that to put children in daycare under eighteen months of age is dangerous. Of course, there are single moms who have no other choice, but if at all possible, there is no replacement for the mother during this crucial time.
I think the point is keeping the vision in mind. What is the end result that we are after as parents? What are we working for with God in order to achieve in the training up of our children? The means to that end is more fluid.
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Note: The school Joy attends is nationally recognized, with administrators, principals, and teachers who are predominantly christian. This was a major part of our decision.
