My oldest child starts high school tomorrow. We have done a mix in our schooling journey which has included about everything you can imagine: homeschooling, Christian school and public school. After homeschooling her last year to finish out her junior high years, she is venturing as a freshman into a public high school. Depending on who I talk to, they all have their different opinions. My friends who homeschool, think I’m crazy and that I’m throwing my child to the wolves. Friends who have their children in Christian school think that I was crazy to homeschool in the first place and that I should put my daughter back in Christian school because it’s the only right choice. Friends who have always had their kids in public school think that I’ve been an overprotective mom and that my daughter will probably fail because of how I must have scarred her. Who knows?
But what I do know is this…each is child is different with different needs at different times and the whole parenting thing isn’t as cookie cutter as I used to believe. We have loved homeschooling. The good that comes with that is one on one education and deep character training. It has allowed us a lot of extra time to pursue outside activities that we never would have had. However, there comes a point when the child is pushing on the cocoon and it’s time to let them spread their wings. As parents our jobs are to raise them to fear the Lord and serve Him always. We were never meant to keep them in our nest forever but to train them to walk on their own through their own relationship with God. My daughter is at this point. She needs to spread her wings and she knows that her parents are her biggest coaches and fans. We are here to guide her and help her think out her decisions and constantly point her back to God’s Word. It is important that she develops a compassion for this world and to see the results of peoples’ lives who don’t follow God’s commands. We have loved Christian school. We have loved hearing them recite Scripture, being a part of daily Bible class and involved in Christian plays and athletic competitions. However, I do see the value of them living out their faith in the world that they live in. Having a compassion for those that need to hear about God’s love.
As we thought about public high school for our daughter, we had a long talk with her about how most of the people do not know Jesus and you may be the only form of Him they will see. Represent Him well. I told her to go into school not to see what she could get out of it in regards to friendships but to see what she could give to it. I stressed how she must view this as her mission field. It is imperative to not follow their ways but to set the path.
As she goes to school tomorrow and starts on this part of her journey, I know the Lord will walk with her. I know there will be ups and there will be downs. I know there will be times that I will smile with delight at how well she is doing. And, I know there will be times when I will stay on my knees extra long because of the concern I have with the decisions she makes. This is part of her journey. We have all been there. I heard a radio show the other day and the commentator mentioned some verse that she prays for her kids that I will pray for mine as well. In the verse she puts in her child’s name. Mine will go something like this:
“Don’t let Hannah drift toward evil or take part in acts of wickedness. Don’t let her share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. Keep Hannah from the traps they have set before her.”
Psalm 141:4,9
I will also add my own:
“Hannah, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19,20
Go get ’em, Hannah!
