Following the School Bus

written January 2007

I was on my home from the gym this morning at 6:30, when I had to stop behind  a school  bus with it's flashing lights.  It was stopped in front of a home, picking a child up for school.  I repeat, it was SIX-THIRTY A.M.!  It was at that very moment that the Lord gave me some insight into a world I was unfamiliar with.  My heart was grieved for the little one who meandered out the front door of his home, into the cold and the dark.  He would spend at the very least, the next hour on a bus, being carted around town to be dropped off a school just a few miles from his doorstep. 

I also thought about my own children - at home, snuggled warmly in their beds, still dreaming.  Where children aught to be at 6:30 in the morning!  I have never been able to imagine sending my little ones off to the hands of strangers. Even before the Lord so mercifully saved me and even before we had children, we knew we would homeschool.  My heart grieved for those little ones having to get onto that bus this morning.  Who would be tending to not only their minds but their hearts today?

You know the excuses. I can't be the only one that has heard them.  "Ours is a 'good' school system!"   We live in small town America - in a little community of 2,500, nestled between two Mennonite communities.  And in our little town with it's 'good' school system, they have just instituted random drug testing for both teachers and students because the drug problem is so severe.  A few weeks ago, a middle school teacher was arrested and led out in handcuffs.  A basketball coach was suspended pending an investigation into a situation between himself and a student.  Teen pg is out of control.  An elementary school student brought a gun to school last month. They evacuated the high school 2 months ago for a bomb threat.  I could go on about our 'good' school system. 

Parents, please get your heads out of the sand.  Do you use the excuse, "I want them to be salt and light."? You know,  I have never heard a parent say that, that was first salt and light themselves.  Never!  The Lord does not expect our little ones to go into a godless world and be salt and light.  It's true and I can back that up with Scripture.  Get out your King James Bible and turn to Psalm 1.  It talks about the godly vs the ungodly man. 

  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; 

his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 Psalms 1:3

Tell me, when does a fruit tree bear fruit??  When it's MATURE!  An apple tree bears fruit when it's old enough to have baby apples!  When our children our young, it's time to train, to shelter and to protect.  It isn't fair to expect out of our children what they are not capable of handling.  I'm not saying that God can't and won't use a child.    I'm saying that it's a lame excuse for a parent to shirk their God-given  responsibility  off on a godless institution under the guise of them being 'salt and light'.  

Therein lies the root of the problem.  Many professing Christian parents do not truly believe God's Word with regards to home education.  Parents are instructed to guide their children in all matters of faith.  

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 

Deuteronomy 6:7-9 

 

This cannot be accomplished when the children are out of the house for 6-10 hours a day and mama is punching a time clock, working for a second "head" (remembering that biblically, her husband is her head....by stepping out from under her husband's headship, she now has two heads.  However, that is another topic for another time.)  We are commanded to teach our children diligently, when you rise, before bed, while you're walking and sitting throughout the day.  Many families today are fortunate to have 20 minutes around the supper table together!  It's time to earnestly pray for the Lord to give you a godly worldview for your family - to renew your heart and mind for Him and to turn your heart back towards your children and away from world pursuits!

As I started typing this, another bus drove by the house, it's lights flashing and I was reminded again of how blessed I am to be a mom.  Our homeschool surely isn't perfect but at least my little ones are HOME where they belong!

Have a blessed day......and go hug your children :)

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