Pondering

A recent conversation with another homeschooling mother made me wonder. She was telling me how well some home school children had done with public exams “See,” she said, “our home school kids are achieving academic excellence.”

Now I don’t want to sound like I’m putting down these outstanding results, indeed I congratulate each child for what they have achieved, it is well merited!

But at this time of year, it got me thinking. The Son of God was born of a small, conquered race, in a little town to an insignificant (by worldly standards) young woman. He grew up to be known as   “the carpenter’s son” (much as we would describe someone as being the local builders child today) Before “his time came” he achieved nothing outstanding, received no special awards.

My thoughts went on to those homeschooled children who will never achieve public accolades…should we continue to home school them; should we boast about them also. Are we in fact in danger of allowing the world’s standards to redefine ours?

I have an aunt who had had to work in a menial job of poor remuneration most of her life. Shortly after she married, she had to nurse her mother-in-law until she died. After this her husband became ill and also needed constant nursing until he left her a widow with four small children to care for. She went to work cheerfully and did the best she could for her kids. At various times she has suffered at the hands of those in authority as they have taken more than their due, especially where the children were concerned. But throughout all this her sense of humour, her never-give-in spirit and her unstoppable faith in her beloved Lord has been unquenchable. She is in her late eighties now and I know that on her entry into her closer time with God He will say ”Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into my kingdom a place has been prepared for you. I think this would be the testimony I would want for my children.