Gone Before You Know It

 

 

One day, it will all be gone.  

 

Those sleepless nights you thought you'd never get through.  

The waking babies who constantly need you. 

The sick little one with an earache or tummy trouble in the night. 

Days where your toddler wants you to read the same book twenty-one times in a row...

Gone.

 

Those days when you think you will always be pregnant and you think you can't get through another one.

You can choose to skip a few years of babies, can't you? 

You think your fertility will last forever.

But one day it will be gone.

One day you'll be sad at the negative tests and wish for just one more sweet babe to hold in your arms...

Or maybe the babies will come but they'll die in your womb, leaving their broken bodies behind with your broken heart...

All gone.

Those days when your house is full of many little ones, 

each needing your attention and help for many things.

How will you ever get through these days of so many?

But one day, those days will be gone.

The unkind words, the arguments amongst your children.

The dirty floors.

The piles of laundry.

The spills and the broken glasses.

The piles of school books all over the house.

It will be gone.

The children will grow up and grow out of needing you all the time.

You'll wonder if you did enough, cared enough, taught enough.

To your dear little ones and growing up ones.

Hopefully they will marry, and you hope they will live close by!

But they may move further

And then they'll be gone.

So, let us treasure, each day, each hour, every moment...

Because one day, it will be all gone.

 

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Happy Mother's Day + Homeschool Help

Dearest Mothers,

Oh, do you love or loathe this day?  Does it remind of you of your failures, or of your blessings?  Though I have many failings and of course have not always done things "right" or perfectly, my children always bless me on Mother's Day, and my husband.  I just can't believe how blessed I am, and can only thank God that He took me from being a person who never wanted children to a blessed mother of many, plus several more in Heaven.  Oh, the sadness and joys that motherhood brings.  Oh, the trials and the blessings both.  How can I thank God enough that He has given me motherhood and continues to sanctify me through it, (and how can my children write cards to me of how I am the Proverbs 31 woman?!)  I think they think too much of me!  My children are wonderful, and I thank God for each one of them.  Motherhood has not been, and is not easy.  It takes almost everything I have, every day, but Lord willing, what I have given into it will live on long after I am gone from the earth.

I pray for you that even if today you have not been so blessed, if you are in sorrow over bits and pieces of motherhood, that you may remember that we cannot do it alone; we cannot be godly alone.  We must seek Christ's help every day to lead and guide and provide for us.  And where things are broken, God can heal.  And God sees your toils and your labor of love, and He cares for you very much.

If you are a homeschooling mother like me, can you relate to wanting to change things up?  Though we school year round and still have many weeks to go until we are done with this year, I am completely caught up in my thoughts of next year.  Though I have used some Charlotte Mason Inspired curricula over the years, I am wanting to give my children a different kind of education next year entirely...One filled with living books and things to learn and see and do.  I have been giving myself a "mother's education" in how to do this, and my learning continues almost daily as I try to prepare.  A Charlotte Mason education includes learning through living books (not textbooks or workbooks, which we have often used), nature study, picture study, composers, and so much more.  Learning is demonstrated by narration instead of filling in blanks ono worksheets.

If you don't know much about a Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling and want to learn more, there is a conference on this very topic starting tomorrow.  I'm sorry to say that the early bird pricing (which is $30) ends on May 14th, but perhaps you can still get in before the time is up (you can still purchase after the early bird pricing ends)!  In the conference, you will learn how to incorporate Charlotte Mason’s methods in your home alongside real moms who have embraced the Charlotte Mason philosophy in their own homes.  I love how the producers of the conference say that 

"We believe that children should be educated in a way that instills a love of learning and a love of God."

And Charlotte Mason herself said

“Of the three sorts of knowledge proper to a child,—the knowledge of God, of man, and of the universe,—the knowledge of God ranks first in importance, is indispensable, and most happy-making”

– Charlotte Mason (Vol. 6, p. 158)

 

You can check out the schedule and speakers below.  I hope you find this helpful.  God bless you all today.

 

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Church is a Lonely Place for Homemakers

 

Time and time again I've had Christian homemakers, Biblical keepers-at-home, write in to me and say how lonely it is at church because the church is full of feminists.  It feels so lonely there because in a time for having fellowship, the other women are all talking about their work week.  Instead of talking about their week spent at home preparing lovely meals for their husbands, teaching their children about the world God made, cleaning the home, sharing time management tips, or even about difficulties with parenting children, many Christian women think they have now found their "higher purpose" in having a job outside of the home.  Even if their children are all grown and out of the house, they very rarely relate to the younger women who are in the throws of raising a family because their minds are consumed with holding down a paying job.  This is not how the Bible says it should be. 

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

(Titus 2:3-5)

Besides this, the mother at home is often neglected in sermons and rarely receives any encouragement for her good works at home (though in some churches, praise thankfully still happens).  Perhaps the preacher is afraid of offending the working wives if he praises the keepers at home too much.  Sermons may only center on a few favorite verses or focus always on evangelism, and often home life that applies to mothers, fathers, and children is sadly left out.  Homemakers then often get the feeling that their work is not important, or is less important, because after all, they are not out "winning souls" like the men.

But.....

I want to encourage you...

Your work at home is important.  

It does matter.

Even if no one acknowledges it or says a single word about it...

Even if there is no one at church to talk to about womanly things (keeping a home, raising children, teaching your children, loving and serving in your home)...

God sees you...

And He values what you are doing.

As a bonus, we now have the internet where we can find like-minded women who love serving their families at home!  I'm so thankful that there are still women writing lovely blogs in between taking care of their families (or even when their families have grown), so we can learn from each other and still have a bit of "Titus 2".

So despite discouragements we may have, let's labor on in love for our families, and may we one day hear from the Lord Jesus Christ, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

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Two Adams?!

God didn't make two Adams to go out from the home and leave the children. He made an Adam and an Eve. He planned for the mother to be in the heart of the home and embrace and nurture children. 

~Nancy Campbell

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Being Holy

 

The amount of loafing practiced by the average Christian in spiritual things would ruin a concert pianist if he allowed himself to do the same thing in the field of music. The idle puttering around that we see in church circles would end the career of a big league pitcher in one week. No scientist could solve his exacting problem if he took as little interest in it as the rank and file of Christians take in the art of being holy. The nation whose soldiers were as soft and undisciplined as the soldiers of the churches would be conquered by the first enemy that attacked it. Triumphs are not won by men in easy chairs. Success is costly.  

If we would progress spiritually, we must separate ourselves unto the things of God and concentrate upon them to the exclusion of a thousand things the worldly man considers important. We must cultivate God in the solitudes and the silence; we must make the kingdom of God the sphere of our activity and labor in it like a farmer in his field, like a miner in the earth.  

A. W. Tozer Sermon: Heart-Seekers

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A Woman Interested in Eternal Things

 

“The most radical thing that will set you apart as a raving revolutionary is to be a woman at home with your children, bucking the whole system of materialism, bucking the whole system of secularism . . . and saying: I’m not interested in me, myself, and I, my body, or whatever. I’m interested in eternal things because what these children are, are the only things in this life that I can take to heaven. And so they are the only investment.”
-Frank Schaeffer

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Conversation in the Home

 

"Few things are important in a home than its conversation, and yet there are few things to which less thought is given. The power of communication, which lies in the tongue, is simply incalculable." 

"But home conversation needs to be more then love to give it its full influence. It ought to be enriched by thought. The Saviour's warning against idle words should be remembered. Every wise-hearted parent will seek to train his household to converse on subjects that will yield instruction or tend toward refinement." 

~J.R. Miller

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Parents' Example to Their Children

 

Whatever parent gives his children good instruction, & sets them at the same time a bad example, may be considered as bringing them food in one hand, & poison in the other.  

~John Balguy

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This Job

"This job has been given to me to do.  Therefore, it is a gift.  Therefore, it is a privilege.  Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God.  Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him.  Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way.  In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness." 

~Elisabeth Elliot

{Painting: Depleted Power - Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller}
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The Gospel in Motherhood

"At the very heart of the gospel is sacrifice, and there is perhaps no occupation in the world so intrinsically sacrificial as motherhood. Motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to live the gospel. Jim Elliot famously said, 'He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.' Motherhood provides you with an opportunity to lay down the things that you cannot keep on behalf of the souls that you cannot lose. They are eternal souls, they are your children, they are your mission field."

-Rachel Jankovic

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Happy Mother's Day 2020

Dear Christian Mothers,

I hope you may have a blessed Mother's Day. How sweet that someone some time ago came up with a day to honor their dear mother. The Proverbs 31 woman's children arose and called her blessed, and so did her husband.

I wanted to share something with you below that I came across the other day. I know we are not truly angels, for we need our dear Saviour Jesus to save us from our sins. But the below little article had me in tears--it was a reminder for me of the great duty the Lord gives us when He gives us a new child--OH! What a blessing! It is such an amazing blessing--a great duty and a privilege. Every day we should be asking the Lord for His help to be a sweet and wise mother for our children, and every day we should be thankful for this great privilege and gift to be called "Mother".
~*~NEWBORN'S CONVERSATION WITH GOD~*~

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
and you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Author Unknown


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Liberty

COPIED AND PASTED: IRONICALLY, FOUR DAYS AGO, MARCH 23, WAS THE 245TH ANNIVERSARY OF PATRICK HENRY’S IMMORTAL “GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH” SPEECH. WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS SPEECH IS REGARDED YET TODAY AS AMERICA’S MOST FAMOUS, MOST INSPIRING AND MOST INFLUENTIAL ORATORICAL PRESENTATION. IF THERE WAS ANY DOUBT THAT AMERICA WAS GOING TO FIGHT A WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN, THAT SPEECH SHATTERED IT.

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

This speech needs to be repeated in the ears of the American people today, as we again face a new version of subjugation under Martial Law—Medical Martial Law.

In principle, what Patrick Henry said about British overlords could be said about the various health departments and local and State governments that are right now eviscerating the Bill of Rights. As Constitutional Attorney Robert Barnes accurately and astutely noted:

"Our founders were intimately familiar with pandemics, viruses and plagues, yet they did not allow any to suspend our Constitutional liberties. Not one word in the Constitution about plagues or pandemics to exempt the government from any of our Bill of Rights."

How can we not see that fear of the coronavirus is being used to acclimate the American people to the disintegration of our Natural and constitutional liberties? What is the purpose of all of this hype and hysteria about corona if it “be not to force us to submission?”

If one wants to see REAL death and destruction, just take away the liberties contained in our Bill of Rights and turn America into a totalitarian, impoverished Third World country comprised only of rich and poor: where the rich have rights but the poor do not, where the rich have jobs but the poor do not, where the rich have guns but the poor do not, where the rich can travel but the poor cannot, where the rich have access to government but the poor do not and where the rich have adequate healthcare but the poor do not. And that is exactly what the powers that are hyping this virus are attempting to do: ruin the prosperity of America’s working middle class.

Let me ask readers something: Is your life more important to you than your children’s liberty?
If it is, then stop pretending to be an American. Stop pretending to believe in freedom. Stop pretending to support our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Stop saluting the flag. Stop commemorating the deaths of the brave men who died “protecting liberty” at Flanders, Verdun, Argonne Forest, Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Corregidor, Anzio, Bastogne, Normandy, etc.

Through two World Wars and a Great Depression MY parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents (and those entire generations) endured enough suffering and death to test anyone’s commitment to liberty—many times over.

And after it was all said and done, their descendants (YOU AND I) were handed a Bill of Rights that had been bought and paid in blood—just as their parents and grandparents had handed it to them. Are we now going to surrender the constitutionally protected liberties bequeathed to us by our parents and grandparents—and granted to us by our Creator—because we MIGHT die of a flu-like virus, a virus that has a global mortality rate of less than 1%?

In the midst of our national crisis today, our cry should be the same as the cry of great Americans such as Patrick Henry and my parents during their respective crises: “Give me liberty or give me death.”

I’ll take the risks of freedom over the security of government “protection” (aka oppression) any day!

Chuck Baldwin

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Distractions and Fear Mongering

I don't know about you, but I am so sick of hearing about coronavirus.  I think a lot of it is fear-mongering to distract us from other things.  When doing my shopping this week online, I was barely able to get deliveries scheduled--no doubt because a lot more people are having their groceries delivered instead of going out to get them.  One store's website kept having technical errors, perhaps due to too many people on it at once.  And then, when I went to purchase toilet paper because we are running out, I could hardly find any to buy!--all because people are giving way to this fear the media is spreading like wildfire.  People are being completely selfish and stockpiling things they don't need.

We, as Christian homemakers, may just need to turn the news off until this passes.  We should be focusing on our homes and families and doing what we can for their health--feeding them healthy, home-cooked meals, for one.  It is processed foods and white sugar that harms our immune systems.  Also, as time permits, learn about treating your own family's health.  In the past, I have learned about essential oils and herbs, and then came to learn about homeopathy.  Homeopathy is my favorite.  We use it all the time for both acute and chronic conditions, and I am prepared with remedies, should the need arise.  Most importantly, we know that the Lord is in control, and as we obey Him, we need to trust in Him to take care of us through all these trials.  You may find this earlier post I have written, helpful ~ Protecting Your Mind as a Homemaker

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't want to live in fear, but one thing that does bother me is the things those in high places are trying to do while we are distracted by this virus.  For those of you interested, I'm copying some information on what the government has been up to, below.

Copied:

In case you haven't noticed, while everyone is distracted by all the coronavirus fear mongering, THIS is actively happening👇🏼🙄😧

SIX states across America are now in violation of the constitution and have stripped their people of their rights, removing exemptions for vaccines - medical, religious and philosophical. Some of these apply to homeschooling children as well or will eventually as new bills are passed.


👉MISSISSIPPI, CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY AND MAINE.👈

➡️ Last month CONNECTICUT passed a bill to remove religious exemptions.

🚫 COLORADO has bill SB 163 going into Senate that removes exemptions and discriminates/mandates review of those choosing not to vaccinate or delay them.

🚫 ILLINOIS has a couple bills, one is to mandate HPV, another bill SB 3668 is to remove religious exemptions and allow for minors to consent on their own to vaccines.

🚫 FLORIDA has a bill SB 64 That would remove religious exemptions and restrict medical exemptions.

➡️ HAWAII passed bill HAR 11-157 that goes into effect soon that mandates the CDC schedule from childcare through college, adding additional vaccines/boosters including FLU and HPV and more for college entry.

🚫 IOWA bill HF 206 is out to remove religious exemptions

🚫 MASSACHUSETTS has a couple bills to remove religious exemptions, get approval from the government for medical and religious exemptions, mandate HPV and allow minors to consent on their own.

There will be more - in your state and added to these states. For homeschooling, for mandates, for consenting minors, for workplace mandates without exemptions, for public notice of vaccination status, for adult vaccine mandates.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE FOR OR AGAINST VACCINES - THIS IS ABOUT FREEDOM, choice and the overstepping of the government officials who are in violation of the oaths they took and the Constitution that SAYS this is not legal.

Take a stand, join the fight, raise your voices, put them on notice. Please, before we lose all of our personal and parental rights.

https://www.nvic.org/Vaccin…/state-vaccine-requirements.aspx

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

National Vaccine Information Center is a reliable source of information.  I know some women hate the talk of vaccines and never look into it themselves and have even accused me of being "political" when I post something about them.  But this is not "political"--this is to be informed for the sake of our family's health, and also our freedoms.  Surely this is something important for mothers to do.  No one should be forced to put anything into their children's or their own bodies against their will.

Also, it has been shown that there is a connection between receiving a flu vaccine and being susceptible to coronavirus.





“Receiving influenza vaccination may increase the risk of other respiratory viruses, a phenomenon known as virus interference.”

“Vaccine derived virus interference was significantly associated with coronavirus...”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/31607599/
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Puckered Sewing

"There is a home of wealth and splendor in which the most sacred and precious household treasure, is a piece of puckered sewing...

Please join me today at Christian Homemaking for the rest of today's post.

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False Ideas About Christ and Christianity

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If Everyone Jumped, Would You?

Today, a quote shared, which has some important truths from God's Word:

If everyone jumped, would you?

Growing up, I would see other kids doing stuff I wanted to do. I'm a follower to the core! But my dad would always ask one thing: if everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?

The way women are today makes me ask myself the same thing. Most everyone I know says it's biblical for a woman to work outside the home. And they will stomp you down verbally if you say anything different! But, if everyone jumped, would you? In the Bible, I see time and again where it states, quite blatantly, I might add, that women are to be keepers at home. For example, Titus 2:5, keepers at home, lest the Word of God be blasphemed. 1 Timothy 5, young widows are to marry, bear children, guide the house. Nowhere do I see that women are to hold office in any capacity outside the home. This includes Proverbs 31, where she planted a garden and sold the extras at market. I also see in Proverbs 7:11 where the strange woman is loud and stubborn and her feet abide not in her house. I have no desire to be that strange woman, nor a woman who blasphemes the Word of God, do you?

What about birth control? Christians will be the first to tell you that you are being irresponsible if you do not space your children out to their own wacked out idea of correctly. But I do not see this in the Bible. If everyone jumped, would you? Almost everyone, in the church and out, uses some form of birth control or another. But I see in Psalm 127 that children are arrows, and blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. I see in Psalm 139 that children are fearfully and wonderfully made before He formed them in the womb! I see in 1 Corinthians where the wisdom of man is as foolishness to God, and the foolishness of God is wiser than man. I see where the Bible says be fruitful and multiply. No where do I see where He has taken that back. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Most people I meet, in church and out, send their children to the public schools. Some will even say you are failing your children by homeschooling, for how will they learn to socialize and stand in line and be out in the 'real world'? I do not see this mindset in the Bible. I see in Deuteronomy 6 where we are to teach our children the Bible from sun up to sun down, sitting to eat, and rising to play. We are to teach them all day long. I see where it says in Psalm 1 to not keep company with blasphemers and mockers. The schools are full of them. We are to keep them with us where we can properly teach and protect them. Why would we send them to Rome as lights and expect them to actually remain lights? If everyone jumped, would you?

The world is lukewarm. God has called us to be either hot or cold, for, according to Revelations 3:16, He will spew thee out of His mouth. Where do you fall?

~Mrs. B. Mosser


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Time is Fleeting

Look back just a few years ago, and can you see a few changes in your life?  I know I can.  Some of them are drastic.  Several years ago, however, I never would have expected the changes.  The rest of today's post is at Christian Homemaking.  Please join us there.

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The Last Homemaker in the World

Sometimes we women can get very discouraged in our role of homemaker.  We expect and want praise and recognition for the job we do at home.  It used to be that the homemaker's role was highly revered and respected, but for many, this is no longer the case.  To the Church's shame, it is largely not even being taught to young girls, but they are instead encouraged to "aspire" to some worldly profession outside of the home.  We housewives are seen as abnormal, not even to the unsaved, Godless world, but many times to those in the Church.

If this is your reality, are you letting it bring you down?

My question to you today is, What if you were the last homemaker in the world?

What if all the other women had left their children to be looked after by someone else? What if all other parents shifted their parental duties off to strangers?  What if no one else taught their dear children at home, raising them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?  What if all other women had jobs outside of the home?

What if you were the only one left who stayed at home and made sure your husband had a haven of rest when he came home?  Who took care of the home with love, who trained up your children at home in the fear and wisdom of God? What if you were the only one left who taught her own children at home?

Would you still do it?  Would you still stand?

This is the courage and conviction we need to have now, as if we are the last ones standing.  The battle is so great.  We must stand strong for our families and for the Lord.  Many women are persuaded to leave their posts at home.  Many women look on to friends or family who do not see the importance, value, and mandate for women to be keepers at home, and they have let the Enemy deceive them into thinking it's not so important after all.  Or they have been lulled to sleep by the wicked one, thinking it doesn't really matter.

But it does.  As for now, you are not the last homemaker in the world.  We do have some fellow sisters in Christ who are standing.  Let us lift up each other's arms for the battle and encourage each other to stand fast in this important, God-given work we have to do.

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Free Homemaking Book (an Old One)

If you enjoy old, free homemaking books, you might want to see this one.  In past years, there have been several books published about keeping the home. I have not read this one, so I cannot say whether it is good or not.  I will leave that up to you.

This book was first published in 1915 and is entitled Household Engineering; Scientific Management in the Home, and its purpose was to help women run their households more efficiently.  Of course, some things won't apply to us--such as servants (smile), but it may still be an interesting read.


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What Kind of Appetites are You Growing in Your Children?

Let Christian parents be the most thoughtful parents there are...

Most parents have goals for their children, or at least some sort of things they would not want their children to become later on in life.  Some parents have goals of their children getting a certain career, or at least being successful academically.  Oh, how academics and education have become a god in modern civilization!  Yes, of course, we should strive for our children to learn and do well with their studies--that of reading, writing, and arithmetic.  Science and history are important as well.  But never should education be placed above giving our children Biblical, Christian education and training.

As Christian parents, our overarching "goals" or hopes for our children should be for them to come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to live lives pleasing to our Heavenly Father.  We cannot, of course, cause our children to be saved.  But every day, we can be pointing them to their need for a Saviour, and showing them what a true Christian life is like--a life of holiness--not perfection, but of striving to do all we do for Christ...a life of humble submission to the Saviour...a life of true repentance when we sin.  Hopefully, in our homes, this is lived out.  It does little good to take our children to church on Sunday, even with good preaching, if we are not living our lives for Christ seven days a week.

Some parents, even Christian parents, make the careless mistake of taking no thought in what appetites they are growing in their children.  A child wants something, or wants to do something he or she sees others doing, and the parent consents, especially if the parents can find no specific Scripture to condemn the activity.  After all, there are several other people doing it--these other people might even be Christians, or at least those who regularly come to church services.  The parents don't want their children to feel "left out" or be different.  Perhaps the parents reason that they will avoid some sort of rebellion if they give in to their children's wishes.

But what is missing is foresight.  We parents must not only concern ourselves with the here and now, but we must have an eye to the future.  We must take the time and thoughtfulness to see how what we allow into our children's lives now, will affect them in the future.  We must not be lazy parents, but careful, thoughtful parents.  We must take everything we give to our children, and allow our children to do, and examine it in the light of what appetites it will cause to grow in our children.

What appetite will that book cause?  Will it cause a love for Christ and the truth of God's Word, an awakening to their need for the Saviour?  Or will it cause a love for living in an imaginary world, a love for fantasy and things that could never happen, dampening a reverence for the real miracles of the Bible?  Will it cause a love for following after one's emotions, instead of relying on prayer, God's Word, and Godly counsel from one's parents?  For girls, is that book going to foster a love for being at home and loving family life, or will it nurture a spirit of independence and a feminist mindset?  For boys, is it encouraging a hard work ethic, being responsible and to one day become a leader and provider for his family?

Friendships are another big consideration.  We must be very careful about our children's friendships.  It is important that we be involved with them, as we know that "foolishness is bound in the heart of a child" (Proverbs 22:15), so why do we allow our children to run off together and play together out of sight and earshot?  So many times children get into trouble together and come up with foolish ideas together and do sinful things.  I'm sure you can look back on your childhood days and remember some of the foolish things you and your friends got into.  Also, just because other children are homeschooled or may have other similar views to you, does not mean you hold all views the same.  We must also be sure that we do not know what goes on in the privacy of other people's homes!  Just because we have a general idea of how a family is when we see them once a week or so at church or some other function, we do not have any clue on what is allowed in their homes all week long.  Since we cannot control what others do in their own homes and everyone is in a different place of sanctification, we must be careful and watchful with our own children, for their sake.  We must remember that our children are our own responsibility, a sacred trust given to us from the Lord.  Charles Spurgeon once said,

O dear mothers, you have a very sacred trust reposed in you by God! He hath in effect said to you, “Take this child and nurse it for Me, and I will give thee thy wages.” You are called to equip the future man of God, that he may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. If God spares you, you may live to hear that pretty boy speak to thousands, and you will have the sweet reflection in your heart that the quiet teachings of the nursery led the man to love his God and serve Him.
Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord.
Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty. Christian women, by teaching children the Holy Scriptures, are as much fulfilling their part for the Lord, as Moses in judging Israel, or Solomon in building the temple.

A word of caution about TV/Videos/Video Games

In too many Christian homes, there is a careless attitude about TV and video games.  I have been shocked multiple times when learning what Christian parents have allowed into their homes via technology.  The kind of sin we want our children to abhor and avoid, these parents have placed in front of their children because they found the overall theme of the show enjoyable or "not so bad".  This is extremely dangerous and is not conducive to being separate from the world and fleeing its lusts, as we are instructed to do in Scripture.  It should be without questions that we avoid being entertained by what is evil and hurtful to our God and Saviour.  Why should we take pleasure in, and teach our children to take pleasure in, that which God hates?  These shows are made by people with an agenda--an agenda opposed to Christ, that seeks to soften our stance against what is sinful.  And by and large, it is working.  Christians are being lulled to sleep and complacency by what they have allowed before their eyes and ears.

Even if a show seems "innocent" and does not contain bad words, sexual content, or other glaringly obvious things we would not want our children to see, why are we teaching our children to sit passively by in front of a screen for hours of the day?  The same is with video games, which are highly addictive and take our children into another world instead of living in reality.  If we grow these appetites in our children when they are young, be sure they will follow into adulthood, unless the grace of the Lord Jesus pulls them out from that time-wasting grasp.  You may find you have grown a son into a "man" who comes home from a job he has barely made the day through (because he has no appetite for work), to come home and sit in front of the television to find his entertainment through videos or games instead of spending quality time with his wife and children, leading them in the ways of the Lord.  Many young men have no desire to marry because for years, their parents have fostered in them an appetite for pleasure and entertainment, instead of teaching them what God's calling is on their lives.

There are many other unhealthy appetites we can foster in our children, which is why we need to prayerfully and seriously consider all of our children's lives.  In girls, we can falsely foster a consuming desire for fashion or beauty instead of the inward beauty that God finds so precious.  We may give our children an unhealthy appetite for sports, which consumes many grown men until their dying day.

We need to remember that our children will one day be adults, and we need to be fostering those things in their lives that will encourage them toward a godly, Christ-centered adulthood.  All things, we must think of carefully, because we've been loaned these children by the Lord, to grow up for His purposes.

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