Years ago I had a Sunday school sticker that said, “Do your work with all your might.” It was a paraphrase of Colossians 3:23. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me.”  I stuck the sticker on my laundry hamper to remind me that even something as burdensome as laundry should be done “with all my might”.  I needed to put as much energy into it as if it was something I really enjoyed, or as if I was “doing it unto the Lord”.  Yes, doing the Lord’s laundry!

Lately, God has put it on my heart to exhort homeschoolers to do their work with all their might, or heart.  The Bible tells us to train up our children in the way they are “bent”, or made. Our children are each different and unique. They have different strengths and weaknesses. They have different needs.   As home school parents we are different.  Some of us are more relaxed than others.  Some of us are stricter in their school schedules.  Every child has their own learning style and every parent has their own teaching style.  Please pray and ask God how you can effectively minister to each of your children individually.  He will show you.  Whatever you do, do your work with all your might.  Academics are serious.  We can’t just stay home and “hang out” with our kids and call it school.  

My husband and I have always believed that God called us to home school, but we have also been open to whatever His will is for us year by year.  Surprise!  All of my kids are in a private school this year.  If I knew this would happen, would I have worked harder during my last years of home school?  You bet I would have!   I think I would have taken academics a little more seriously.  

God is showing me in our own ISP that we need to give our kids a good education.  It means that we absolutely should put everything into our teaching.  You know I preach “flexibility”, but even in flexibility we have responsibility.  God has given each of you a responsibility in training your children at home.  We do not want to be stressed out over homeschooling, but we also do not want to be so relaxed that our kids are grades behind.  And yes, I have seen that in homeschooling families throughout the years.  

Recently I was looking over the HSLDA membership agreement (a requirement as a part of CCA-ISP).  There are three things members agree to do. 1) Exercise diligence in teaching our children in a responsible way. 2) Use a clearly organized program of education to instruct our children. 3) Keep records of each child’s educational progress.  This is all very practical and wise.  

Please, I cannot stress it enough…do your work with all your might!  Teach these precious children of yours as if you were teaching Jesus as a child.  I certainly wouldn’t want my Lord to miss out on the advantages of a good education.  Pray.  Continually, pray!  Ask God daily to guide you in your child’s education.  When He gives you a plan, be diligent to follow through.  Don’t sell your kids short by being lazy or unorganized.  Do your work with ALL your might.  

May the Lord richly bless you as you seek Him daily in your child’s education.

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