“Before we can say that we have realized the ideal of a true Christian home, we must prove its spirit. What impression would our home and its life make upon a pure and simple-hearted child?
We may build a palace of marble. We may fill it with the rarest beauties of art. We may adorn it in the most luxurious fashion. We may furnish it in the most costly manner. It may be perfect as a gem in all its appointment, a piece of art in itself. Then our home-life may be as stately as royalty itself. There may be the most perfect order, the loftiest courtesy, the utmost precision of movement. Each member of the family may fulfill his part with unfailing promptitude.
Bring in the child and ask it what it thinks of your home. “It is very beautiful,” responds the little one. “It is very grand. It is a palace. Does a king live here?”
You turn away disappointed. You have failed to make such a home as you wished. You have piled up grandeur, you have made a splendid piece of art; you have succeeded in setting up a model which all will admire; but you have not made a home of love, of tenderness, and of praise.
You begin anew. You do not seek this time for grandeur. You build your home with taste and thought. You put into it as many lovely things as you can afford. You set up your household life and fill it with the spirit of prayer, of love, of gentleness, of unselfishness. Again you call the child. She moves up and down, in and out. She sleeps under your roof; she eats at your table; she tastes of your pleasures; she mingles in the life of your household. You ask her what she thinks of your home, and she replies, “I think Jesus lives here!”
It is not the grandeur that impresses her now, but the spirit that dwells within; not the stateliness, affectionateness, not the courtliness, but the sweetness. She finds love everywhere–love that shows itself in tone, in act, in look, in word and in countless little manifestations of thoughtfulness and unselfish tenderness. It impresses the untaught feeling of the child as a home like that in which the Master would live.
This is the true test of home-making.”
-J.R. Miller The Family
8 comments
Hi Kelly,
This is sort of off subject but what do you think of the curriculum My Father’s World? I know it is Charlotte Mason and classical education based.
What are your thoughts on women voting?
Thanks for your help. Seeking advice from a some what older, wiser godly woman.
Blessings,
Jamie
I haven’t checked out My Father’s World personally, but I’ve only heard good things. I would search for reviews if you’re considering using it.
Women voting? LOL. Well, personally I’d love to go back to a time when “households” voted (and it would have been silly for men and women to marry who did not at least share the same major political views). That way, on voting day, I wouldn’t have to drag myself down to our community center and my husband could just go pull the lever for US.
But, that’s not the world in which we live, so we must play the part. I suppose if my husband and I ever disagreed on our political views (unthinkable to me since we are one), we’d both save ourselves the trouble and not vote at all since my vote would cancel his vote as a household.
A little tongue in cheek with a whole lot of truth 😉
I just wanted to say that i am so greatful to finally find a God fearing family. I feel blessed and encouraged everytime i read your pages. I have two little boys ages 4 and 2 and i also homeschool them. Sometimes i just want to cry because our families do not support us homeschooling them. I often wonder if anyone else had ever come across this problem before. My husband and i know we are doing the right thing in Gods eyes so it does make our decision easier. However sometimes i do wish we had more support. Well to all you wonderful God fearing,homeschooling,children loving families God Bless you all and keep up the rewarding work of the Lord. I would love to get to know other homeschooling families so anyone that is interested please let me know.
With all Gods love
Kasey
Kasey g,
I just wanted to encourage you to keep up the good work. Eventually you will feel so confident in what you are doing that other people’s opinions will not bother you (at least that is what has happened with our family). A book that solidified my homeschooling beliefs is As You Rise Up by RC Sproul Jr. Love that book!:)
Kasey,
Have you looked for a local Christian support group? I’m sure you could google your state homeschool group and from there you might be able to find a local group. Also, your local libraries might know who the homeschoolers are. When we were the oddballs in our family as well as in our church, our support group became our encouragers and spiritual family. I’d be happy to be whatever help I could.
I read this book a few months ago and loved it. It should be on everyone’s must read list. It is convicting yet inspirational. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you all for your support. I did look up a local church who has a homeschooling meetings and such for all the families. Its on August 10th so we hope to meet other families that night. I cant wait to meet other families it will be so nice to finally meet someone with our own beliefs and views. I will be getting the book as well thank you so much.
oh ya i forgot. is anyone out there a member of the ATI program? my husband and i have been thinking about joining soon. but just wanted more feed back on it.