by Deborah Wuehler
Our journey to homeschooling began with an observation of other home-educating families, which eventually grew into a strong personal biblical conviction of discipleship. Here is our God story.
My husband and I were Sunday School leaders for seven years before we had any children of our own. We loved our little crew of Sunday school kids and loved sharing the excitement of Christ and His Word with them. We didn’t know this ministry of discipleship would lead us to discipling our own children through homeschooling. We had never even heard of the idea of educating our own children in our own home. Our church had several families who educated their children at home, and we had those children in our classes. They were always engaged and thoughtful and knew their Scriptures. Over those seven years, we watched these children grow from their elementary to middle school and high school years and saw the fruit of a family dedicated to home-based discipleship.
We vowed that if the LORD gave us children, we would disciple them through homeschooling. And that is exactly what we have done—for over thirty years now.
From Labor to Blessings: Witnessing the Fruits of Discipleship in Parenting
We are just beginning on the fruit-receiving end now, and that fruit is spreading the good reward of this discipleship effort. This stage of parenting is a continual blessing as we are reaping fruit from those very labor-intensive years of early child-rearing for the glory of God. All those discipleship days are paying off as we see children who rise up and bless God, us, and those around them.
We have gone from the often-tiring, sometimes difficult, but purposeful daily living with many small children, to the now-distant but prayerful watching from afar as these young adults spread the love of Christ and disciple their own children.
Who is Discipling our Children?
When we choose to homeschool, we have a choice to make, to simply do school at home or to disciple a new generation who will rise up above the fray of culture and follow Christ. Discipleship is key to the future. God’s Word always speaks of training the next generation (Psalm 78). The aim goes beyond academics — to train up the next generation to love and serve God all their days and share the gospel. Who is discipling your children and mine? Who is telling them of the wonderful deeds of the LORD? The student will become like the teacher (Luke 6:40). The need and power of discipleship are great, and we have been given this window of opportunity as we persevere in parent-led, Christ-centered education. The next generation needs us.
Over the years, Christian Home Educators of Colorado has been there to strengthen the resolve of home discipleship for thousands of families, mine included. I have been encouraged and strengthened to keep on keeping on, even when the days are hard, because the years are short. May God be glorified in our endeavors! It is He who will be sufficient and cause us to abound in every good work, even homeschooling.
God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV).
We all have a story to tell about how the Lord led us to homeschooling and discipleship. What is your story? We’d love to hear it. https://chec.org/stories/
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