This post is from contributor Jenn Hoskins
God Speaks to us in the Little Things
It happened again.
I was asked why I choose to homeschool. Not the “Oh wow, why do you homeschool?” with a big smile, but instead the ominous sneer of “Oh wow…. Why do YOU homeschool?” from someone who disagrees no matter my answer.
Those people are bundles of fun, aren’t they? They at least give me a moment to show them how quick I can be when it comes to being sarcastic. “I’m homeschooling them because I like my children around. Don’t you like your children?” Okay, not the most Christ-like answer, but I am working on it!
In reality, why do we choose to homeschool?
I know we have a variety of answers no matter the size of the group. I was reading through Ecclesiastes and something huge stood out to me. It jumped off the page and said, “This is why you homeschool, Jenn! This is why it’s worth it when there are tears and trials! This is why it is worth it! This is the BIG idea behind why homeschooling is important for every Christian family!”…. and I am going to make you wait a paragraph for it!
First, let’s talk about Ecclesiastes. King Solomon was the wisest, most powerful man who walked the earth, second only to Jesus. He had everything. He owned everything. He tasted everything. He had money, power, freedom, fun, parties, and people to do everything for him. He really did it all. His conclusion–none of it mattered. Not.one.thing.mattered.
As Christians, the things of this world shouldn’t matter to us. Our focus is eternal from the moment we are reborn, repenting of our sins and putting our faith in Christ alone.
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 ESV
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment[c] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him[d] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God.
Now we can talk about the big idea.
Before I was saved BIG things mattered. I needed to do big things to show I was accomplishing something. Have a nice car, own an interior design company, work from home so I could earn money, wear good clothes, etc. I could go on and on.
Vanity. Those were BIG things, to me, that people could see so they were the things that mattered!
After I was saved, I found God in the little details and the false god of the big things slipped away. The Lord took the interior design company. Then He put me in jeans and t-shirts and planted me firmly in the mommy trenches, giving us 4 additional children, bringing us to a total of 6.
Suddenly I saw God in bath time, laundry, cleaning up milk…. again, messy hands, singing the ABC’s, pushing through phonics, He was there in all of it! All over the tiny details I was trying to avoid was a small glimpse of my Heavenly Father waiting for me to see what He values as important. Tiny, mundane details glorify Him.
Through the wisdom and knowledge God has given us, we see that homeschooling our children is one of those details that God shows His hand in so much.
So how do we fully convey this to the people who ask us the “you are crazy for homeschooling!” questions? We cannot. They are blinded by the big things. What they see as you wasting your days at home with your children God sees as an offering to Him. What they view as you sacrificing the ‘big things’ like a better car, bigger paycheck, another degree, etc., God views as a life laid down to Him, pouring into tiny eternal souls the most important thing, Him!
You are walking out a life laid down when you go through the daily tiny details. You do not need to answer the critics anymore. There is freedom knowing now that they will not hear correctly no matter what you say. What you need to do is take that moment to tell them about the amazing Jesus you serve who calls you to the honor of homeschooling and then pray He opens their eyes.
Otherwise, they will never see past the big things to see the beauty of the little things. Love those little things momma! Jesus is right there in each of them!
Latest posts by Jenn Hoskins (see all)
- Confessions of a Recovering Curriculum Hoarder - February 28, 2018
- Igniting the Spirit of Adventure in Your Homeschool Using Missionary Stories - March 27, 2017
- How to Have Your Children Take Music Lessons for Free - August 14, 2014
- The Family that Serves Together Stays Together {including Family Service Project Ideas!} - July 10, 2014
- The Tale of Two Towers - June 16, 2014
Thank you for this! Very encouraging! I don’t home school yet bc I have 2 year old but this goes just the same for me as a stay at home mommy. We will be homeschooling and I do worry àbout it…. I sometimes miss working and being a part of something big, I used to always be in charge if something or leading. Lol i always used to be busy and accomplished then God changed that and I became a mommy, gave up school and work and everything else lol. Lately I have been struggling with this. Thank you for the reminder that being a mommy who pours into her kiddos IS a big thing!! It’s one of the greatest callings! It just doesn’t look so glamorous. Thank you for helping see this today’
This is week two of homeschooling my 2 & 3 year olds for preschool, both are developmentally delayed. I committed to three days a week, made my husband buy curriculum, books of the week, crafts and supplies. I didn’t have class yesterday, and I only did half of it today. My husband was out of town, and, well, it’s hard. I started wondering if I only wanted to homeschool just to look good, would they be better off in the public preschool with therapies? I read your post, and sang The B-I-B-L-E with each of them, and they responded with, “More, more!”
And that’s why I homeschool. Thank you so much for this post today, I really needed it!
Great website I’ve gone to many times… We’ve contemplated for many reasons, homeschooling our kids. But to be honest, I kinda found this article a bit disturbing. It truly sounded as if, I don’t see the blessings in the small things, and that because we chose not to homeschool we are living worldy… :/ I know people’s perspective of homeschooling is way off. Just yesterday I was defending homeschooling because they truly had no idea what homeschooling was like. It erks me when people have opinions on homeschooling and have no idea how awesome it is. But this article… Truly made me feel like, because I’m not homeschooling, I’m not a holy-spirit inspired parent, that I don’t see things how God sees things, that I don’t see the blessing in my life. Just cuz I don’t homeschool, doesn’t mean I’m worldy and into material things and not eternal minded. Sure, it’s a battle I’m choosing to help my kids battle since they are in the public sector, but, every family is different. What is perfect for one family doesn’t mean it’s perfect for another. In the beginning of the article, she stated her opinion about homeschooling being for every Christian family… I honestly don’t know that I agree. :/ I think in many ways, I can see how, yes, it’s beneficial and u can cultivate the right spirit In your child. But, I truly believe that can happen even in the public sector, with the right cultivation as a parent for ur child. I hope it doesn’t seem like I’m really upset but I am a bit bothered. I completely respect people’s opinions in homeschooling, but sometimes some homeschooling groups can be so passionate too that they don’t see other people’s choices as maybe spirit lead too… Cuz believe me, we sought out serious counsel and wisdom from many godly people and sought out The Lord on this and I truly believe I heard the Lord speak to my heart on what to do and the moment that happened, the deal was sealed, I knew what we had to do. So, this article implying I don’t see the blessing in small things does kinda ruffles me because I believe I do see the blessing, but homeschooling just isn’t for us, right now. Hope u understand our point of view too. I’m a stay at home mom and for the first time since having children all three of our kids will be in school. 3rd, 1st and Kinder. Maybe down the road homeschooling is for us, but for this yr… I know without a doubt I’ve heard the Lord speak to my heart on this issue.
Oh Nicole! You are doing a great job! You are doing what matters! Curriculum is secondary to their hearts. Love them, sing, dance, cuddle and throw in some abc’s. My 2 and 4 year olds still do very little formal school. We learn days of the week, months, abcs, and much more just through songs. Have fun, they are only little once! ~Jenn
So glad you were encouraged! You are doing big things, just so different than how the world sees the big things. 🙂 ~Jenn
Thank you….
Patricia, I think what’s important to remember is that the heart of this article is to encourage families who homeschool. Homeschooling is a big and sometimes lonely choice and we need reminded that Jesus is right up in here with us. Blessings to you.