There have been a cluster of sad stories concerning public school children recently. A few months ago the horrible Sandy Hook school shooting occurred in Connecticut, and a several weeks later an F5 tornado took the lives of 7 elementary school children in Oklahoma. These occurrences seem to make all parents take a step back, reevaluate their parenting, and hug their children a little tighter.
During these tragedies, a number of public school teachers stepped up to the plate. They were heroic, actually. I’m sure that you’ve heard the stories of teachers shielding their students with their own bodies, telling their students that they loved them, since they needed to hear it one last time, and praying out loud to our almighty God, which is normally clearly forbidden.
These stories of heroism are good to hear. They give us a nice sense of security. These teachers really love and care for their students. They help us believe it is actually a good decision to send them to school each day, away from their mothers.
But…what if? What if our own children were in the same situation and staring death in the face? Who would you want to be there, giving last comforting words? Praying last comforting prayers? I can’t speak for you, but I know that my answer would be…me. God has chosen me to be the mother of my precious children. He has asked me to be their protector. And mother, if you have children, He has chosen you to do the same exact thing.
The media would like us to believe that public school is where our children belong. They champion the stories of teachers, that as I said earlier, were heroic during the tragedies. They play these stories, over, and over, and over. Do you think that there might possibly be some sort of agenda here?
Unfortunately we live in a fallen world. And that world wants our children. We are not to be of the world however. James 4:4 says, “Know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” When we send our children to public schools to be taught in ways contrary to the word of God, the world is happy. When tragedy occurs, we might second guess the choice we have made to send our children to public school. I know that I heard a multitude of parents throw around the term “homeschool” after the Sandy Hook shooting. These are parents who have said in the past they would never, could never, homeschool. Tragedies have a way of changing minds. The world swiftly answered, playing the stories of teacher heroism again and again. Trying to convince us that we have made the right choice in sending our children to public school. Where teachers step up and love their students just like mothers do.
But wait just a minute. Why are we sending our children to a place for sometimes 40+ hours per week where the teachers can act in an unthinkable situation, just like mothers? Wouldn’t they be better off with their mothers? Where their mothers can say “I love you” whenever they would like during the day. Where their mothers can pray out loud without ceasing if necessary. The brave mothers who take on the role of teacher are usually ridiculed by the world however. Why can teachers heroically act like mothers, but mothers can’t heroically be teachers?
I’m not trying to use scare tactics, nor am I trying to use a tragedy to further my agenda. I’m also well aware that we shouldn’t live in fear. Dear mother, please just think for a moment. Who should be with my children if they are faced with death? Who will comfort my children if tragedy strikes? Your children need you, and love you more than words can say. I’m sure that they would rather be comforted by you, than by anybody else. God has called you to be their mother. Praise Him for this wonderful calling!
Be blessed!
~Nicole
With our storms being so bad recently, and having to run to the storm shelter a few times, I have thought about this a lot. I looked at my children who were scared and thought about others trying to comfort them while they also tried to comfort 20 other children and worry about their own families who were in other places. I thought about what if the worst case scenario happened and we were hurt or worse and knowing my children would be comforted in those minutes (hopefully) by someone not even related to us, and who knows what faith (if any) they might have thus maybe not giving my children Biblical and Godly words of comfort during that time.
I don’t live in fear. It’s not our reason for homeschooling. We made that decision based on a leading in our lives from God. But, when the storms of life hit, it just makes you realize how wonderful it is, how comforting it is, to know you, the parent, is the one who will be there during those hard times. I want to be that for our children.
I remember when my kids were younger there was a shooting over at the school and my husband called me at home and said “I am so glad you are homeschooling!”
Of course, we knew that God was capable of protecting our children anywhere that they were. But still, at least, for that moment, we knew EXACTLY where they were. They were home. With me.
I would love to have you link this up and join us for “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party, if you’d care to join us! 😉
Thank you for the invite, I just linked up. 🙂 Love your site!
I’m so excited that you linked up with us! Thank you, my friend! 😀
Thank you for this reading. I had to pull my children out of public school when the teacher herself began to ridicule my child leaving her in tears and hating school. And to think, she was one of my quiet children. I’d rather pour into them good & bad than to allow a stranger to tear my children down. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Thank you so much for sharing!