by Patricia Dotten

For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose hearts are completely His (2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB).

“Dad,” I said, “I feel so ugly.” I was a middle schooler with telltale acne, scrawny legs, and frizzy hair! Dad put his hand tenderly on my shoulder and simply said, “I think you are beautiful.” My pimples did not go away, but I immediately felt like everything was going to be okay.

As a young child, I watched Dad interceding in the prayer chapel at our church, hands raised, tears running from his eyes, pouring his heart out to his heavenly Father. “God must be a good, good Father if my dad loves Him this much,” I remember thinking.

In high school, I will never forget having severe stomach cramps and how Dad walked with me, praying out loud, for three hours in the middle of the night until my cramps went away. I am sure he had to go to work the next day, but being tired did not matter half as much to him as his relationship with his daughter. It was another tangible picture of my sacrificial heavenly Father!

I knew I was loved; I knew I belonged, and I knew I was valuable because my dad said so.

What a treasure chest of gifts my dad gave me throughout my growing-up years. They were pictures to me of a reality that is so much bigger than any earthly relationship: my Heavenly Father’s love for me and for His Church. 

Our Ministry as Parents

Do we, as parents, shape the concept that our children will have of their heavenly Father? Yes, yes and Amen!!! Are we perfect image-bearers of God? Not at all; but God, in His great mercy, has given us the privilege, as parents, to partner with Him. What an astounding responsibility and an awesome role: that God would use us in our weakness to reveal His character to our children. May we step up to this high calling, zealously growing in our own relationships with Jesus. May we allow the Holy Spirit to build the Father’s character in us so we can be living witnesses to our children of the God who loves them!

Our biggest goal as homeschool parents is to keep our children’s hearts, not to manipulate or control them, and not for our own selfish security or agendas. Their hearts do not belong to us, but to the Lord. We have been given the job of being stewards over our children for a short time in order to point their hearts to Christ. 

The Bible is full of principles that can guide us, as parents, toward ways in which we can help our children’s hearts stay tender before the Lord.

Our Prayer for Our Children

After all, our hearts are what God is after. As 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose hearts are completely His.” This must be our priority as Christian homeschooling parents: to make sure our own hearts are fully devoted to Him, to allow our children to witness what that looks like in real life, so that they would, in turn, desire to be completely His.

Though I am a “graduated” homeschool mom, that is still my prayer for myself, my children, and now my grandchildren. Will you join me, homeschool mom and dad? As you begin another year in this exciting and vital ministry of shepherding and discipling your children, pray for hearts in your family that are completely His! 

In next week’s blog, we will delve into a few practical ways in which we can partner with the Lord in the important work that He is doing in our children’s hearts.

Recommended Resources:

• Revive Our Hearts Weekend Podcast from August 24, 2024. Click on the link here: Passing Your Faith to the Next Generation
• Shepherding a Child’s Heart, by Tedd Tripp
• Age of Opportunity, by Paul David Tripp
• Keeping Our Children’s Hearts, by Steve and Teri Maxwell

About the Author: Patricia Dotten

Patricia Dotten graduated from being a homeschool mom in 2022 after 25 years of teaching her 4 children. She enjoyed every moment of doing life full-time with her children. Her son and oldest daughter graduated from college and are now married. She is excited about her first grandchild that came early this year and she is excited about her 2nd grandbaby due this fall! She resides with her husband and 2 youngest daughters in the Southeast where her daughters attend a small Bible college. Patricia’s favorite thing to do is encourage homeschool moms. If you have any questions or comments, she would love to hear from you at homeschoollifetogether@gmail.com.