By guest author Cindy Puhek

I have found the secret of successful homeschooling. Want to hear it?

It’s not finding the perfect curriculum. I’ve known people who use traditional classroom textbooks, and I’ve known people who use unit studies. I’ve known people who are eclectic, and I’ve known people who use the classical method. In all of these cases I’ve seen spectacular failures and miraculous, mind-boggling successes.

Homeschooling success is not guaranteed through adopting a certain lifestyle. I’ve known people who are very disciplined and schedule oriented, and I’ve known people who are surprised at the end of each week what was accomplished. I’ve known homeschoolers who live very quiet lives, and I’ve known homeschoolers who are never home because they are involved in so many activities.

I’ve known homeschooling families who have made some radical lifestyle decisions in an attempt to rediscover the Biblical family. I’ve known others that look and act much like the surrounding culture. And in all of these extremes I can tell you stories of success in which the children grew up to be mighty saints of God and stories of failure in which the children went off the moral deep end and rejected everything their parents sought to instill in them.

So what is the secret of successful homeschooling? Successful homeschooling like successful parenting is found in total dependence on Jesus. Pray about everything. Pray about curriculum decisions. Pray about extracurricular activities. Pray for the Holy Spirit to transform our children and give them hearts for God. Seek God daily. Cry out to Him. Thank Him for every success and seek His help in every trouble.

As I’ve looked to God and seen Him work, I’ve been amazed at the mighty things He is doing in my children and how little credit I deserve for the good things that are happening. I pray this school year, I will depend more on Jesus – and may this be the cry of each of our hearts. Then we will know the truth of the promise of Isaiah 54:13: “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

About the Author: Cindy Puhek

Cindy Puhek holds a Master’s Degree in chemistry and is a freelance writer who resides in Colorado Springs. She and her husband, Peter, have been married for 21 years and are well into the second decade of homeschooling their six children, who range in age from preschooler to high schooler. Cindy seeks to encourage other homeschoolers by sharing the ups and downs and twists and turns of her own homeschooling journey.