As the summer flew by we knew that our journey in knowledge would continue as we picked the books back up. We often remind our children that one should never stop learning, however during the summer months our family takes a more informal approach to academics. But this week began our official “school time”. With great expectations I woke Monday but by the end of the day all I could do was shake my head. The day did not go as planned. There was fussing, disobeying and yes, even screaming. And the children didn’t do so well either. As I pondered the first day back at school and searched my heart for the answer to why the day did not go well, the Lord spoke to my conscience. I already knew the answer for conscience means with (con) knowledge (science), making my conclusions all the more painful. It was as if the Lord asked, “By what standards are you setting up for your children? Are your goals based on the world or do you have a Biblical standard for these children I have given you? Are you concerned with only the outcome or is it the process of learning that you care about? Are you teaching your children so that they will get the best education or is there a higher calling of teaching your children – for My Glory?” In truth there is such a contrast in each approach. Therefore it is important to reevaluate our reasoning for home education each year. While my husband is constant in his goals for this family I must admit that I am prone to wander off the path at times. I believe that is why God in all His wisdom allows me a day like Monday. He allows me to slip off the path of excellence, fall down on the rocky road of this world, and then come running back to His marvelous plan for my life. So, as I nursed my bruises from the day before I took on a whole new approach to learning and teaching on Tuesday. Whether we were reading the Word of God as a family, practicing cursive handwriting, or studying the 2nd law of Thermodynamics our focus was upon doing all things for the Glory of God. Would you believe that the contrast was as stark as night and day?
Tag: Children
What’s in a Name?
My sister just found out that she is expecting a baby! The whole family shares the excitement that she and her husband have. Having children is such a blessing. Scripture says that children are a direct blessing from the Lord. (Psalm 127) Therefore, the more children you have, the more blessed are you.
My three children are looking forward to having a new cousin. They have taken it upon themselves to pick out names for this child. I remember the dilemma we had when trying to decide what names we would choose for our children. After all, our children would have to live with our choice for their entire life. So we choose with care:
Aaron (Anointed One)
Abigail (Father’s Joy)
Andrew (Strong and Courageous)
As I think about names and what they mean I cannot help but think of the name above all names – Jesus. One of the most moving songs about the name of Jesus was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. While performing their song, “There’s Just Something About That Name” Gloria has spoken these following words between the verses:
“Jesus, the mere mention of His name can calm the storm, heal the broken, raise the dead. At the name of Jesus, I’ve seen sin-hardened men melted, derelicts transformed, the lights of hope put back into the eyes of a hopeless child… At the name of Jesus, hatred and bitterness turned to love and forgiveness, arguments cease. I’ve heard a mother softly breathe His name at the bedside of a child delirious with fever, and I’ve watched that little body grow quiet and the fevered brow cool. I’ve stayed beside a dying saint, her body racked with pain, who in those final fleeting seconds summoned her last ounce of ebbing strength to whisper earth’s sweetest name–Jesus, Jesus… Emperors have tried to destroy it; philosophies have tried to stamp it out. Tyrants have tried to wash it from the face of the earth with the very blood of those who claimed it. Yet still it stands. And there shall be that final day when every voice that has ever uttered a sound–every voice of Adam’s race shall raise in one great mighty chorus to proclaim the name of Jesus–for in that day “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!!!” Ah–so you see–it was not mere chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin maiden, “His name shall be called Jesus.” Jesus–Jesus–Jesus. You know, there is something about that name…”[i]
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11)
[i] It’s more than Music, Bill & Gloria Gaither, The Gaither Charitable Foundation, 2003
From the Mouth of Babes!
Over the weekend our family drove down to the coast. My oldest son had a couple of friends with him. On the way one of the boys commented that he made a bet with his sister that he would never get married.
My reply was, “Of course you will.”
This young man said, “I just want to be single.”
At this point in the conversation Andrew, my six year old piped in saying, “You are single when you get married.”
To which I said, “No you’re not.”
“Yes, you are.” Andrew insisted, “The two shall become one flesh.”
Even now as I sit here pondering the significance of what this child said I wonder just how many adults grasp this concept.
“And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19:4-8)
I know divorce is a very real problem with mankind. It always has been. But as believers we must be diligent in the Biblical teaching of marriage. For those who are married they must take heed lest they fall (I Cor. 10:12). For those who have been divorced how much more should they teach and train their children the consequences of divorce and the standards of God. As parents our goal is to show our children what a healthy marriage looks like. My husband strives to be a strong leader and a godly husband and father. I strive to be a submissive wife and a loving mother. While we both fail at times our desire is to endeavor towards the high calling in which we are called. In that my children will have an example in which to look. I pray that my son (as well as all my children) will continue to hold fast to the truths in God’s Word. I pray that he will want to be a husband and father someday. And that he will long for the day in which God gives him a wife.
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD”. (Proverbs 18:22)
Kimberly Williams 