Family Service

As a Christian Homeschooler my goal, for my children, has never been intellectual greatness.  Sure, there are times I get wrapped up in the right now and push my kiddos harder than I should.  There are days I get too focused on checking off boxes, mastering Latin, being the best debater or writer, and keeping up with the other schoolers.  It makes me look and feel good when people mention how smart my kids are and how much they know.  This mama can morph into a pride-fueled puffer fish, in an instant.  But she can also jab and poke at her students like no one else.

However, it doesn’t take long for God to shake some sense into me.  Thankfully, He leads me to still waters and helps me repair the damage my education rampages have caused.  Then, He reminds me of my true goal.  My mission, in all this chaos, is to lead my children to Christ. To make disciples of Jesus, not indentured apprentices of myself.

That means school is happening all the time.  Whether the books are cracked or not.  Learning is happening.  And to be a good disciple one must learn how to serve.  In a home and a family, serving opportunities abound.  Though we all weary from daily, mundane chores and constant cheek turning with our loved ones, it’s a daily skill to be cultivated.  But loving those who love us isn’t all the gospel asks us to do.  Jesus commands us to GO.

When your life consists of the same faces and routines, it can be easy to get swept away every day. There are jobs to complete, tests to take, remediation to attend to, chores to complete, meals to fix, and dishes to wash.  It’s simple to forget to go out and make a difference. But in disciple-making, doing so is vital.  How does this non-missionary family fit in outside service?

When they’re little, simple tasks and duties can grow a spirit of service.  With my Bean and my Sprout, we made Christmas crafts to hand out to all the seniors at our church.  We didn’t have to know their names.  A smile and a Merry Christmas went a long way.  Years later, their crafts still grace the homes of the people they touched.

Volunteer at your home church. 

My husband and I volunteered for our own duties at our home congregation.  But we also made time to volunteer as a family.  We taught a Sunday School class, as a family, for years.  Our kiddos learned gentleness and patience.  They also learned how to speak to younger children with respect and not condescension.  My boy loved to lead the class. He’d lead the songs and the lesson.  In fact, he still volunteers at AWANA and has many creative ways to share God’s word with those younger than he.  He writes skits for puppets and hopes to begin a ministry for kids in our community.

Help a local church.

Our home church was a bit of drive.  Toss in California traffic and it could take FOREVER to get there.  Okay, it just felt like forever.  We found it difficult to volunteer or attend special events our church was hosting.  If they happened during a weeknight we, often, had to drive separately and battle rush hour to get there.  But we still wanted to help.  So, we volunteered at a church down the street from us.  This summer, the kids and I donated time and energy to VBS set up.  It was much easier to plan our days when the church was only five minutes away. From painting, cutting, wood burning, and crafting there’s always some way to help prepare for Vacation Bible School. And though we may not be attendees, we know we’ve aided in the advancement of the gospel.

Find a missionary to support.

My family loves missionaries.  We love reading about them, meeting them and encouraging them.  However, we can’t always offer the financial donations we’d like to give. So, we dedicate ourselves to pray for our missionary friends.  We can and do spread the word about our favorite missionary works.  We write letters.  We draw pictures.  We save coins.

Being part of an evangelical effort in another country grows our spiritual imaginations.  We dream of all the things God can do with and through us.  We hope in Him for a future of faith and good works.  We keep our eyes peeled for new opportunities to bless and pray for others. We see people as souls, not numbers or nuisances.  I can’t imagine not witnessing the passion of our missionaries or hearing about the heart harvests waiting to be gathered. How self-serving and hollow our homeschool would become.  When our family prays for our missionaries, (Yep, that’s you Mr. Peter) every night, we become part of the restoration. Maybe not a visible force but a powerful one. We know it makes a difference.

Going into the world doesn’t always need a passport.  Your family can begin their missionary journey in their own neighboorhood.  Loving and serving those God intentionally places in our paths is a wonderful way to grow the empathy of your students.  Perhaps it will even transform the hearts of their teachers, as well.

What acts of service or kindness do your family and your homeschool practice?  Share them in the comments below and lets spread the love.