“… because they do not change and do not fear God.”
–Psalms 55:19
As homeschoolers, there seems to be two major times of the year that we expend the necessary energy to review how we are doing life. One is at the start of the school year while the second one is at the start of the New Year. We should be so grateful for these moments where we can recalibrate our daily schedules to be more consistent with our vision for life and schooling.
The ability to change is one thing that separates man from the rest of the animal kingdom which lives merely by instinct. While some scoff at New Year’s resolutions, we need to remember that change is something that God has built into His economy. David goes so far as to say in Psalms 55 that change reflects the fact we have a healthy fear of the Lord.
We are supposed to be in a constant process of being conformed to the image of God. Priorities we had a year ago should be more biblically refined today. Words that we used a year ago, should be out of our vocabulary today. For example, when I was younger, I used to say, “J-e-e-e-s-u-u-s” in the tone and cadence that a certain sect of Christians uses. God deeply convicted me that this was dishonoring His Son’s name. At the same time, we also disavowed the use of “gosh, golly, Jeez, and Jiminy Christmas,” in my home as I felt these were also an infringement upon the holiness of Christ’s name. Other areas of change might include the establishment of a family altar, serving one another, more kindness, etc.
Other changes are not necessarily a matter of sin, compromise, or biblically questionable actions but are a matter of emotional or intellectual maturation. We Southern Illinois rednecks can be pridefully stubborn about our slang, lack of couth, and poor manners, irrationally and unbiblically equating refinement with effeminacy. Only recently in devotions I talked about the glory of Solomon’s household, noting it was so amazing that the Queen of Sheba lost her breath because of its grandeur. (1 Kings 10) We also noted that we should be able to conduct ourselves with such decorum that our children can stand before kings without embarrassment or intimidation. As a result of this discussion, we are now holding each other increasingly accountable with grammar, mealtime manners, sitting and standing posture, and personal idiosyncrasies. We have even talked of the possibility of a $1 fine for each infraction. This most definitely caught my children’s attention!
Then there are other areas like personal hygiene, physical health, diet, picking up after ourselves, and keeping our cars and rooms clean. Although some would no doubt minimize these things, labeling them as unimportant, the adage remains true: sow a thought; reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny. Many leadership gurus stress the importance of making our beds each morning, noting that this simple act sets the trajectory for the day, and in some ways … for life. Why? There are no small things. Obedience and integrity at one level open the door of obedience and integrity at the next level just as sure as sin at one level opens the door to sin at the next level.
Never forget that change is inseparable from the Christian life. God commands and expects us to change. It is not a one and out but something we do consistently. When we do experience change in our Christian walk and in our homeschooling journey, it is a sure sign that the grace of God is at work, and that we are rightfully walking in the fear of the Lord.
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