Do Your Homework - Sending Them Off with More Than Pencils and Paper
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And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. – Deuteronomy 6:5-7
The proverbial shopping trip for school supplies always heralds the beginning of a new school year. Halfway through the summer, our children are already planning what backpack they will choose. By early July, retailers are waiting with overstocked shelves of #2 pencils, colored notebooks, and binders sporting the latest middle school craze. And don’t forget the inevitable supply list provided by the classroom teacher. One by one we check things off and pray we got it right.
Come that first day, our enthusiastic offspring stand on the front porch with their backpacks full of the essentials, and we snap that all-important photo of their sweet, smiling faces.
But it’s not long until things get serious, and those sweet faces aren’t always smiling when there is a test to be studied for, or homework to be done. We encourage our young students to do their best, relieved that our homework days are over.
Not so fast. As parents, we will always have homework of the most important kind. It is work that starts early, is never quite finished, and can only be accomplished in our home.
In Deuteronomy 6, God charges us to nurture our children in the knowledge of the Lord, equipping them to combat the world’s influence. Before they ever step out our door, our job as parents is to see that their minds and hearts are packed securely with the true essentials they will need for this battle.
How do we do this? We spend time with them, teaching them about the character of God. Sharing our stories of His faithfulness. Reassuring them of His love and constant care. We walk with them through their own struggles, letting them know what is important to them is important to us, and even more so to Jesus. We teach them a love and respect for Scripture—not as a set of rules, but as true wisdom and direction they can depend on everyday. We guard their young minds by exposing them to the best and locking our gates with a protective no to the world’s ugly intrusions. We foster discernment early, and pray we get it right.
It is quite an assignment, but we are never alone. We have a good Teacher who hears the earnest prayers of moms and dads and who is always ready to help us with our homework so that we might send our children off each morning with more than pencils and paper in their backpacks.
Questions for Reflection:
- What truths do your children need to hear at this time in their lives about the character of God? He is good. He is faithful. He is wise. He loves them and never leaves them. The more they know about God, the more they will learn to trust Him.
- Do you know any trusted, godly parents a little ahead of you in age and experience that might serve as mentors? One of the best ways God teaches us is through the examples and experiences of those who have walked our same path. Ask God to show you who they might be, or perhaps you might be the mentor God is providing for someone else.
