They've Caught On!

We were sitting around the table "at school" this week - going through our Bible lesson. We have been working on our catechism materials, going through a new curriculum called "Fighting the Good Fight" from Piper's "Desiring God for Children" and touching/reviewing Biblical Doctrines for young children in the mix of things. Needless to say, our Bible time takes us quite a while in the mornings....but all of it is flowing together well and it leads to GREAT discussions/questions from them. All of that to say, that at some point our oldest, Caleb, makes an "off-hand" comment about how he and Joshua understand that "this" is really the most important thing we learn about. When I asked him what he meant, trying to see where he was pulling this from and what had gotten through - he said that he and Joshua had noticed that we talk about this doctrine-stuff at least 4 times a day (in their personal quiet time material we have them working through, in our Bible study time in class, in our church history curriculum, and then at night with Daddy in our family time)....so it must be pretty big stuff. Then he reminded me that Dad always tells them that it is more important to him that they know their catechism and their verses than that they score a touchdown, etc....

In our time of homeschooling you hear a great deal of "yes, ma'm"s when they breath that sigh of "alright" under their breath (you know the sigh I am talking about)...you see the hints of disappointment tug at their mouths when you call them in to get ready for school...you sense the obvious displeasure at having to do yet another subject or workbook page, or heaven-forbid - math problems! And yet, somewhere in the mix of it all....in the quiet, subtle undertones of the day, they hear loud and clear where your heart is....they get it! They see the point! They understand the purpose - it is amazing when you have that moment that they point to and say "that's why" you are doing what you are doing!!!! Yeah!!! I told Chad that I was thrilled that this was the moment they saw and clung to - and not the times that my attitude blows it over curriculum planning or when a home repair throws our schedule off, or when my lack of discipline throws our whole day out of sync because I was too lazy to get all of my stuff done the night before...or how I can just be the chief of all sinners and have a really lousy day....they see all of that too - it is by God's grace that He allows them to look past all of that, and realize that there is something really BIG about all this DOCTRINE-STUFF!!! I said it to someone last night - there are so many times I pray, "God, protect them from my stupidity"....and in the midst of that He reminds me (and hubby helps to remind me), just give them His WORD and it will be enough. So, for all the homeschool moms out there - as you gear up for this year - remember, they see where your heart is and the messages you send without a word...they see where the emphasis is - even if we don't point it out!! They get it!