A Petition for Home Educators

God of All Wisdom and Understanding,
We come with all fear and humility.
We look to you alone, Gracious Father,
to give us what is first of all
Pure,
Peace-loving,
Considerate,
Submissive,
Full of Mercy,
Abounding with Fruitful Harvest,
Impartial,
and Sincere. (James 3:17)

Already, we as mothers and fathers, need so much more
strength and patience than we have the ability
to produce.

As we turn these kitchen tables into classrooms, and spare rooms into
places where young minds turn letters into words.
Where notebooks become filled with numbers and exacting solutions.
In these oversized chairs where books are loved like old friends.
On these crumb sprinkled floors, where brain food and history tests
share the same space.

It is here, in your Providence, that you have called us to teach our children
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—
all that is excellent or praiseworthy—
these things, all these beautiful and hard things—we hold out to them. (Philippians 4:8)

God, we want to acknowledge that this is not an easy road.
This place of opening books and answering ‘why’s’,
in the melt downs (by both parent and child) and in the high-fives and hugs—
it can feel very lonely and as if the mountain of learning will never have its peaks.
We can feel, in quiet and bitter places, that we are giving up parts of our dreams,
parts of ourselves.
In confession, when we are ready to do so, we admit there are times that we bemoan
this calling you have placed on our lives.

Mercy, Oh Lord!

In these places of repentance, remind us that any sacrifice given is doing its work
to make us into a better spiritual house.
With these living stones, precious to God,
we are stacked and set in place. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Our purposes as parent and teacher are refined.
They are indeed good works prepared before hand,
that we should walk in them and leave tracks of glory. (Ephesians 2:10)
For your name.
We see, this is bigger than education—this is day to day discipleship.
What a gift you have given us! Praises to Your Holy Name!

These children that you have given to us, there aren’t grand enough words
to describe our gratitude.
You truly are the Father of Lights, every good and perfect gift—every single one,
has been from your hand. (James 1:17)
In each of their stages of development and learning,
you have given us all we need to teach and disciple these precious people.
We thank you because we know that when
we feel like we don’t have what it takes—you do.
When we need knowledge to questions and computations,
grammatical correctness and scientific theorem,
artful lines and computer programming—
we will ask and you will open Your Hand to give us what is needful.

We ask you, Shepherd of the Sheep, to give us your heart to lead these lambs.
They will come hungry (in the middle of math).
They will be distracted (by the Lego man hidden in their pocket).
They will be tempted to complain about the seating (their foot keeps going to sleep).
They will want to give up (when a lesson calls for sentences with all the spelling words).

But, they will also…
Make connections that get them so excited, they bounce with joy.
Read a whole story for the first time, by themselves, and feel like
there is nothing they cannot do.
Get lost in the workings of the universe and want to be the smartest,
and work the hardest just for the chance touch the stars one day.
Or memoize all the genus and species of wild cats because it brings them delight.
They will see how You, God, in your Majesty and Sovereignty, have been
telling Your story all throughout history’s cannon.

We get the front row seat to watch them see—and be amazed.

Yes, what a Gift this is and what a Good, Good Father you are.

So, here we are.
We come with sleepy eyed children,
and cups full of coffee.
We come clearing desks scattered with crayons,
and yesterdays glue covered crafts.
We come dressed and ready, beds made and chores done.
We come robed and slippered knowing you are holding this day,
and that by your Power, we will see it through.
We come with schedules and curriculum,
snacks and pencils sharp.
We come with songs to sing, verse to learn.
But, Sweetest Friend and Lord, we really just come to see what you will do.
We expect you, just you—to fill us and move us forward to learn new things
and remember what is good. Knowing you is our Greatest Good.
Our Highest Aim.

In all these things, we declare and believe that this day of home school
will indeed accomplish all it was created for.
Our sanctification
and Your Glory.

In the Name of Your Son, who became for us wisdom from God—
He is our Righteousness,
Holiness,
And all our Redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Our Brother and Lord Jesus.
Amen.