“Why do you think home schooling works?” my educator-friend asked. “It shouldn’t work, you know. You moms don’t have teacher credentials; you don’t have expensive facilities; and you don’t have enough resources.”
“Well, it works,” I replied, “because it is based on biblical principles.”
“Like what?” she queried.
“Like togetherness,” I answered.
“Togetherness is a biblical principle?” she asked incredulously, waiting for a much more theologically sophisticated response.
As simple as it sounds, togetherness really is a biblical principle that unleashes a powerful force in the home. Jesus gives us the model of togetherness as He lived with His disciples for three years—training, teaching, exhorting, loving. Even His name—Emmanuel “God WITH us”—bespeaks of His passion for togetherness.
As we study, learn, worship, work, and play with our children, we are following Christ’s example. We should also employ this example as we teach our children to serve others. Serving others fulfills Jesus’ command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” As in academic training, the most powerful way to teach our children to serve is one-on-one. We teach service best by taking our children with us as we serve others.
