The foundations for my kindergarteners (and beyond)

It's not spring time but in our home there is a new beginning. It's called a kindergartner! And, in keeping with my most of my previous 5-7 year olds my teaching begins with the basics. Reading and writing???? Well, not so fast. I first like to lay some important foundations that they will carry with them throughout their school years and throughout their lives. The following is a basic outline of how I like to introduce a young child to world of academic learning. Which pretty much sets the stage not just for their academic instruction but for living life as well.

These principles are weaved throughout their curriculum and also pointed out to them through their everyday living, and by the end of the year he or she can be trained to respect:

1. The authority of God and His Word, for all subjects and for all government-from self to civil.

2. The authority of parents and teacher as representatives of God and His Word.

3. The Christian individuality of each student as unique and valuable in God's plan of history. He can appreciate others' individuality and show concern for their needs.

4. The principle of Christian self-government. He can develop the capacity for self -government by:

A. using the scriptures as a standard for knowing right and wrong:

B. realizing that God is interested first and foremost in the internal attitudes of the heart. Outward expression is important, but secondary:

C. recognizing that each student is in control of his own eyes, mouth, hands, and body:

D. learning that home, school, church, and civil government can be governed by Biblical principles.

5. The principle of Christian character as illustrated by biographies from scripture, America's Christian history and literature and practiced through the student's daily work and play.

6. Individual property, including the property of conscience, by:

A. recognizing each individual as God's property, made "in His image." and accountable to his Creator-Maker:

B. Caring for his own property and allowing others to care for theirs:

C. Training his conscience in the Law of God and also respecting others' expression of their conscience in understanding Biblical standards and principles.

7. The rudiments of each subject by learning the first principles, or elements, and the rules which govern them.

8. The liberty to become self-teaching through mastering them first principles of the English language.

These guidelines are taken from my copy of A Guide to American Christian History for the Home and School by James B. Rose. I have them printed off and keep them handy for the times when the children need reminders and for the foundation of learning for my "new beginnings" child.

So what exactly is an American Christian Education? In short:

The book A Guide American Christian Education for the Home and School is based upon Biblical reasoning and governmental principles emphasized in first century Christianity, and expressed in America's first two hundred years. For example, some of the truths which govern the student, as well as the emphasis of the subjects, are the Biblical principles of individual worth, local self-government, character, personal property (especially the property of the conscience), and voluntary consent.

An American Christian education focuses on cultivating the individual, heart, mind, and character needed to maintain a Christian Republic. This provides opportunity for the teacher/parent to help the student to apply his knowledge to the government of himself, and then to extend it into his home, church, community and nation. This approach purposes to develop in students a mind and temper, redeemed by the Spirit of Christ. and the manners and habits required for the useful life of service to God, man and country. (American Christian Education for the Home and School).

It is better known as the Principal Approach method and works very well along side the ideas taught by Charlotte Mason. By googling it you will come up with many wonderful writings on and the importance it plays in education.

When I'm not at my best....

which is quite often, I refer to this poem I have written in my notebook (author unknown) and it really helps my perspective. (And my patience) I hope it helps you when you are down as much as it has me.

There are little feet that follow

In my footsteps every day

Their little voices echo

So much of what I say.

Sometimes I'm not too happy

With all the things I see

Then I begin to realize

That they're imitating me

My patience seems to falter

And I speak with too much haste -

Til I hear the Saviour speaking

When I look into each face.

Oh Lord, please grant me wisdom

As I train each little one,

Help me set a good example

As You yourself have done.

I would not ask for riches

Or that they famous be

But may each find Christ as Saviour

And live each day for Thee.

Appreciating and using the Original McGuffey Readers

My intention is not to reinvent a post about the Original McGuffey Readers simply because on Large Family Mothering we have such fine posts that were written on using them. If you have plans of using them or just want to see how one family benefits from them I suggest popping over and reading her posts. I only want to share how much I appreciate the content and how it is used in the training of my children. Each of our children has read or are reading these books. I like to have them read the lesson to me so we can discuss any vocabulary words and to discuss the lesson and what is to be learned from it. Each child reads 2 lessons a week and the days are staggered for each child so that I typically only have 2-3 lessons a day to go over. This seems to work the best for us.

Here is a sample from the Original McGuffey Eclectic Third Reader that is from the lesson my daughter read to me today.

Line 4. It will cost something to be a Christian, it will cost more not to be so.

Line 6. They who deserve nothing should be content with anything.

Line 9. They that do nothing are on their way to do that which is worse than nothing.

Line 10. Christian graces are like perfumes, the more they are pressed, the sweeter they smell. They are like stars that shine brightest in the dark. Like trees, the more they are shaken, the deeper root they take and the more fruit they bear.

Line 11. Sin yields its pleasures first, but pain is sure to follow. The pleasures on sin are only for a season.

Line 17. Knowledge will not be acquired without pains and application. It is troublesome digging for deep, pure waters, but when once you come to the spring, they rise up and meet you.

Line 18. There are no principles but those of Christianity, to be depended on in cases of real distress. These are able to encounter the worst emergencies, and to bear us up under all the changes and chances to which our lives are subject.

Homeschooling~The Early Years

If you are just beginning to homeschool or are considering it for the future here is a resource well worth looking into. An excerpt:

A Parent's Chief Duty

1. Understand that bringing up and educating your child is the most important job in society.

2. Form in your child right habits of thinking and behaving.

3. Nourish your child's mind with loving, right, and noble ideas.

For more on homeschooling the early years click on the link below.

The Early Years

A parent's SOLE responsibilty

Who's running around Walmart these days? DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN & PASSIVE PARENTS! I really dislike Walmart but try as I might I always end up paying them a visit for one reason or another. Oh, I'm not implying that Walmart has anything to do with the following experience I am about to share with you. (I'm just saying I hate Walmart)

So here's this mom; a toddler in the front seat, a preschooler in the cart and two children tagging along behind. I'm thinking ages 7-10 give or take. Forgive me if this story is the norm but you have to remember that I live in a bubble, in the country, and not much of a 'get around town' kinda girl. (the kind that hits all the stores all the time)

Back to the little family. Mom says to one of the boys in tow. "Here is the shirt I picked out for your pictures." Son shoots back with, "I don't like that shirt and I'm not wearing it." Mom~"Well you are going to have to, it's one of the cheaper ones." Child, in a hot, irritated voice. "Mom, I don't think you're listening to me. I said I'm NOT wearing it. So just put it back on the rack right now. You never listen, never, now put it back."

Obviously embarrassed mother steps up her pace in the hopes of being able to 'close' down the conversation. However, son was not going to let that happen. In a voice well above talking he shouts, "Mom, slow down, what the he** do you think you're doing? I was talking to you now stop walking right now."

~~~~~~~~~~

I was saddened by this whole scene. The love and respect between parents and children is such a positive thing to have and I hope that all parents who struggle can overcome these obvious trials and bring back peace into their homes. But it has to begin with mom's and dad's and much prayer. (I need to add that I understand there are families who struggle with a son or daughter who is suffering from emotional imbalances & my heart goes out to you as you give everything you have to help these little ones. Even children without obvious problems can be a challenge to their parents. But what I am trying to express in this post is bottom line, that we can't leave it to 'chance' how our children are being raised. Effort is key, diligence, prayer, etc. It is these things when in lack that we find ourselves drowning. Where there is no vision the people perish! But I know if we seek the Lord, pray, hope, love, and keep being consistent then the blessings will come.)~this is my eye's being opened edit

"A parent's sole responsibility"

There are many parents today, in and out of church who seem to have lost all common sense when it comes to raising children and teaching them to obey. Training our children in obedience leads to many God given blessings. Blessings I'm sure as parents we all hope to see in our children. Obedience opens the door to our children's hearts and better enables our teachings to find a place in their lives. Our one, true, and noblest example of obedience is our Savior Jesus Christ.

My question is why? Why is it so easy to be passive in the training of our children? I've come up with some examples of what can cause us to be a bit laid back in this responsibility.

Parental inexperience, (obviously a new parent will have inexperience, that's where scripture comes in, especially Proverbs) feeling inadequate, perhaps a bit apprehensive to fully, 100% expect obedience from our little ones. Maybe we fear that they won't love us, respect us, or end up resenting us because of our expectations we have for them. But as their parents it is our Godly role to see to this facet of their lives. Consider Eli and his sons. Eli was chastised by God for honoring his sons before God. God held Eli responsible for the desecration of the tabernacle because his son's made themselves vile and he restrained them not. Did Eli ever have a handle on his sons? Did he ever teach them about authority? Were they ever expected to obey mother and father, thereby teaching them obedience to authority? I feel that in order to obey our Father in heaven, obedience must first be learned on earth, in our home, under the righteous authority of the parents. It is very easy to allow small acts of defiance to go unpunished while raising our children. But we must remember that those small acts of defiance, if allowed to continue unchecked will grow into bigger acts in later years.

"One who has never been in the habit of submitting to others, will always be headstrong and self-willed; and such a character nobody loves." Harvey Newcomb

It has been my experience that when a child falls into 'woes' I must ask myself if I have been diligent. Diligent in attending to their training. Do I watch over my children, keep bad habits in check, and nip the beginning of bad habits and behavior in the bud before they intensify. Diligence~

Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

Diligence is the philosophers stone that turns every thing to gold.

I think that this is one of the many reasons why I love homeschooling. It enables me to be diligent. Being with our children, physically, for as many hours of the day possible is key to keeping them in 'check.' When they are off, doing who knows what, learning who knows what lessons, pulling who knows what kind of tricks children are capable of. Are we sure, absolutely sure that whoever our children are in the care of; will they correct bad behavior, (if they chance to see it) teach kindness to a child who is being selfish, encourage patience when it's not their turn, praise them when they have shown an act of kindness thereby encouraging them? I love having the opportunity to take a troubled little one and open up the scriptures, read them a story or poem to illustrate that there is a preferred way for them to act. To rise above the normal childhood antics that befalls everyone of them. Moms and dads, it is our job to do this. Diligence is the key. Be ever watchful over your children and teach them in the way. 24/7

"And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deut. 11:19

But what about socialization.....

No, not this again!! I'm sure it's not going to be long and we will be seeing this question on bill boards all across our nation's highways simply because of it's popularity. But I'm not going there anymore. I've exhausted myself on the issue and closed the book on it. However, I really don't mind sharing what other's have to say about it. Because no matter who you ask, I think you may get a different answer. I've chosen one from R. C. Sproul to sum it up for many of us who have chosen to homeschool our children.

"Sometimes I ask those who raise this objection, "Now, when you speak of socialization, you're talking about my child's ability to get along with others who are different. Is that it?"

Uh, well, yes!

"And your solution is for my 10-year-old to spend seven hours a day stuck in a room with a bunch of other ten year olds?" "But this isn't really what people mean by socialization. What they want for my daughter is for her to be hip to all the things other 10-year-old girls are concerned about, like fashion labels, television shows, pop singers, and other essentials to the good life. They are concerned that my daughter is not under the sway of Madison Avenue, that she is free. But I have none of that concern. I raise my daughter, her sister, and her brother to be free. Their identity is in Christ, not in pop culture." R. C. Sproul

I have decided that there is some bottomless pit somewhere from which questions like this are pulled. How about you? What are your answers or comments that you have on socialization?

Praying for wisdom is a must....

at least for me anyway! "In Gibeon the Lord appears to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, "Ask what I shall give thee?" 1 Kings 3:5 "And now, oh Lord my God, thou hast made my servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in." vs 7 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" vs 9 "And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing." vs 10

I can only speak for myself here. I too know not how to go out or come in. I too need to ask for the wisdom and the understanding that only God can give me. As I begin yet another new year in our homeschool I am again looking for the path the Lord would have each of my children take both in their curriculum and in their everyday lives. The many questions and concerns once again bring me to prayer. To ask the Lord what is that He would have my children learn and how He would have them learn it. Each of our children are different and that calls for a customized lifestyle of learning for each one. In our home we have children who have strengths in reading, but perhaps not in math. A strong skill in hands on activities but not in creative writing. And so on!! Each one of these children are arrows in the hands of our Father. It is our responsibility as 'children' and parents that we seek God through prayer and ask for His plan for our children in the coming new year. Only He knows them best, only He knows their path, and only He can direct them using us as His vehicle. "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."~Proverbs 2:6 "Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Yes, we shelter our children

Yikes, you "shelter" your children? Here's a new word that keeps coming up around homeschoolers. It is mostly used by non-homeschoolers and you may even hear it at your church from your Christian friends and leaders. That word is often spoken in whispers regarding 'the family' who has chosen to shelter their children.

 I admit that we do. But before you begin to psycho analyze our decision let's consider the meaning of the word shelter.  (I firmly believe that however the Lord leads you in your family, then that is what's best for you. All families are different.  I feel it is extremely important to search the Lord's will through faith and prayer when it comes to decisions being made for your family.)

Shelter~That which covers or defends from injury or annoyance. The state of being covered and protected; protection; security. He that defends or guards from danger. To cover from violence, injury, annoyance or attack. To defend; to protect from danger; to secure or render safe; to harbor. There are many scripture passages that show what a loving, protective, sheltering, delivering, Father we have.

Psalm 18-2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer

2 Timothy 4:17-18 God strengthens us and rescues us.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Psalm 56-9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back

Psalm 91:3-5 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler...he shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Psalm 121:3-8 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is they keeper: the Lord is they shade upon they right hand. vs. 7-8 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve they going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 41:10 I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Psalm 1241 2-6 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: then they had swallowed us up quick,, when their wrath was kindled against us....Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.

If our family is guilty of sheltering, then so be it. Even the wonderful Christian 'sooth sayers' who love to counsel families in regards to the idea that our/your {homeschooled} children should be the 'salt and light' to the world, and, they should be exposed to the evils and the wrongs in the world in order to 'strengthen' them against it.  Those overwhelming feelings of love, the desire to protect, and care for you baby! That shouldn't end just because your child turns 5. They depend on us, their parents, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord all their days. They don't need to be exposed to evils, lies, and the false teachings that are corrupting our children each and every day to make them strong and stand against the storms of life. The word of God, His teachings is what they need to make them strong. Do we feed their bodies junk food to strengthen their bodies? No, that weakens them, just as the junk food fed their minds in our schools, by tv, etc do not strengthen them. We feed them whole foods, living foods; that is where their bodily strength comes from. So as filling them up in the word of God strengthens their souls.

So I say "shelter away." "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Proverbs 4-11-15

I love those verses in Proverbs. Ask yourself~are YOU guiding your children in the way of wisdom? Are their teachers, the television, friends, and church leaders guiding them in the way of wisdom. To whom are we trusting the guiding to?

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well. Whatever your child is being instructed in, that will he hold onto.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way."

"If you want to know what has de-Christianized the country, I point my finger to the provided school from which Christ has been turned out and the door slammed in His face. The thought of it makes me bury my face in my hands and sob with sorrow and shame.~Heber C. Iverson Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

Homeland Security

When we think of Homeland Security exactly what comes to mind? 911? At least that is where it began. The role of the Department of Homeland Security was set in place to protect our nation from fanatical terrorist who seek to destroy us through acts of terrorism against US citizens.

Those two words, Homeland Security can have other meanings as well. Let's consider our very own HOMEland Security. The homes in which our little ones are growing up in. All one needs to do is look around to see that the family is under attack. I was reading that over 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. As if that isn't sad enough, we need to think of our children and under what influences they are growing up under. There are TV programs, movies, questionable friends, music, magazines, drugs, alcohol, and a myriad of other negative traps set by the adversary that our children can fall into. Are we being diligent to protect the borders of our homes?

"How indignant and horrified we would be if our national homeland security was so slack as to allow an army of terrorists from abroad to break into our nations homes and kill, rape and destroy over 50 percent of our families. Yet, in many ways, this happens morally on a daily basis and few are up in arms and appalled about it." ~Nancy Campbell

Just as our armed military is important to the safety of our nation so arming our children with the word of God is even more important. If our children are 'strong' spiritually in the Lord then that will automatically transfer to being strong in the physical being. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."~2 Timothy 3:16 This scripture pretty much covers everything. The answers are there for us if we just incorporated it's teachings everyday in our lives and into the upbringing of our children.

Daddy admonishes his children

He rounded up all the kids that were home at the time for one of his "you need to know this" moments! I like to call them 'light bulb' moments because he seems to suddenly be inspired to share his wisdom and knowledge with his family at times when you least expect it! The children are quite used to times like these and I honestly think they look forward to them. This time there was a story included so he had their full attention!

"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and nothing will be constrained from them, which they have imagined to do.~Genesis 11:3-6

Why did they do this? "Lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth." This, was done in disobedience to the command to replenish the earth. They however thought that they would stay together, live together, and die together. To "unite" and pursue anything which theyimagined to do. Here we have, most likely King Nimrod in command and having his own agenda. The agenda being to clam universal monarchy, in order to unite for their common safety, he conspires to keep them in one body, having them all under his eye, he might not also in the future fail to also have them under his power. But, it is God's prerogative to be universal monarch, King of kings; Lord over all. So, in following chapters we see how God handled the situation.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.~Genesis 11

"In Matthew Henry's words, "The project of some to frame a universal character, in order to a universal language, how desirable soever it may seem, is yet, I think, but a vain thing to attempt; for it is to strive against a divine sentence, by which the languages of the nations will be divided while the world stands."

Simply put, they brought on themselves by their open rebellion to God what they feared most. The Lord scattered them. Do we see a pattern here in our day. Could not the building of a "one world government" be compared to the tower of babel. We can see where things in our society are moving. Towards a one world everything. United in thoughts, desires, goals, etc. THIS my friend is not God's intentions. "And they said to one another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime they had for mortar."

Brick for stone, and slime for mortar? Herein lies daddy's lesson to the kids. What a difference there is between men's building and God's. When men build their 'world' or 'Babel,' they use bricks made from slime and mortar. But when God builds his kingdom, he lays even the very foundations of it with sapphires, and all its borders with pleasant stones. He cautioned the children against this. To be diligent and always focused so as not to become a 'builder' of men and man's work in this world but in God's only. Like Nimrod there are 'hunters' who hunt for the hearts of men in order to move their agenda forward for their own purpose and desires and not for God's. They [the hunters] want the glory and the honor. All we need to do is look around. There is a reason we are referred to as sheep in the scriptures. Sheep are in need of a shepherd. One whom they can look for all things. Children, be careful who you give allegiance to. There are bricks everywhere in the world, and more are being made even as we speak. What makes these 'bricks?' The media, the fashions of the world, the schools, both private and public, the colleges and universities, even in our churches you will find bricks. What do bricks have in common? They are all the same color, size, and shape. They are held together with slime and they break easy. Could the slime and mortar used in the bricks be compared to our thoughts, ideals, goals, and even to how we dress and look. God's desire is that we become as stones. Not easily broken. Individuals, different colors, shapes, etc. (Thoughts, goals, ideas....) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.~Phillipians 4:8. In this world we are not to engage in "follow the leader" games. Unless that leader is the Lord. Let the Lord build the house and do His work in you. And be weary of wolves in sheep's clothing who desire your heart even though intentions may be honorable. Always follow and stay focused on the King of kings, and Lord of all.

I love it when daddy sits the children down for these inspired moments. He just seems to draw their minds and spirits in sweet communion and inspire in them a desire to do what is right and good.

Speaking of modesty....

Modesty, a subject often spoken about in our home. Maybe it has a little something to do with having several daughters that it keeps coming up. It is a topic of much discussion in our home as we strive to raise our daughters to be "in the world" but not "of the world." I found it interesting when I looked the word up in the 1828 Dictionary of Noah Webster~That lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance. This temper when natural, springs in some measure from timidity, and in young and inexperienced persons, is allied to bashfulness and diffidence. In persons who have seen the world, and lost their natural timidity, modesty springs no less from principle than from feeling, and is manifested by retiring, unobtrusive manners, assuming less to itself than others are willing to yield, and conceding to others all due honor and respect, or even more than they expect or require.

It goes on to say~Modesty, as an act or series of acts, consists in humble, unobtrusive deportment, as opposed to extreme boldness, forwardness, arrogance,presumption, audacity or impudence. The word is also used as synonymous with chastity, or purity of manners. In this sense, modesty results from purity of mind, or from the fear of disgrace and ignominy fortified by education and principle. Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor.

As we see here, modesty is NOT just about what we wear! I Samuel 16-7~For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Well now, that's a relief right? Now we have biblical proof that we can 'gloss' over the subject of dressing modestly. WAIT, that doesn't sound right! I Timothy 2:8-10~ "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works."

Let's end the "Hostage Crisis" by determining right now that we will no longer follow the trends of our decadent culture. In matters of personal holiness, why not shoot on the high side? The church is a Bride, not a harlot. Let's determine to adorn ourselves modestly, both inwardly and outwardly.~Harold Vaughan

God promises blessing to obedient children. That should be a powerful motivation for Christian parents because they love their children and want God’s blessing upon them. Today, many parents have developed a pattern of responding to their children rather than instructing and training them. They spend a lot of energy negotiating with their children, often lowering some standard in the process. Parents have been seduced by self-esteem propaganda (e.g., "My son is student of the month at…") and the very liberal idea that a family should be a mini-democracy. The result is child-centered family relationships that may have more in common with anarchy than Biblical order and harmony.

Joshua declared before all the people, "but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." For Joshua, serving the Lord was a family affair. His was a right-side-up view of family. Christian parents, standing together as "benevolent dictators," should be teaching their children respect for the holiness of God in every area of life ― even when they don’t like it. Parents who model and enforce Biblical moral and ethical values consistently in the family home are protecting their children by setting standards of thought and conduct that will help keep them anchored spiritually and socially as they mature.

Religious Education in the Family

No nobler social work, no deeper religious work, no higher educational work is done anywhere than that of the men and women, high or humble, who set themselves to the fitting of their children for life's business, equipping them with principles and habits upon which they may fall back in trying hours, and making of home the sweetest, strongest, holiest, happiest place on earth. Henry F. Cope