He is learning to read, to spell, and play sports.
While he is at school, and away from me {for the first time in his life} I am learning too. He's teaching me that his father and I are no longer his only instructors. We are no longer the only people he is learning about life from. He is learning from his teacher, and more so, from his classmates.
Josiah has never been around other kids who didn't know about Jesus. He has never had friends who have talked about things we don't like. Zombies, ghosts, vampires, skeletons, and creepy things are the hot topic right now.
{For the record we love to trick or treat but we despise all other aspects of Halloween, read more about that here}
The other night at the dinner table Josiah uttered the phrase "Oh my god" {and nearly gave us a heart attack}. James and I looked at each other the same way…eyes wide open, not sure what to say to him. I know it is a very mild phrase…but it's not spoken in our home. James and I struggle with many things, but our language isn't one of those. I quickly told Josiah that he was not in trouble, but that he's not allowed to say that. It's taking the Lord's name in vain, and it's not allowed to come out of our mouths.
My first reaction is to pull him out of school, keep him home with me in our little, happy, Christian bubble. But wouldn't the devil just love that? Does he not relish in the fact that I am scared that Josiah will not make the best decisions; that his tiny mind will be overwhelmed with the ways of the world?
Just at dinner last night we asked Josiah to stop drawing pictures of "spooky things". This hurt his tiny, innocent heart. He doesn't know what makes these things wrong. He is surrounded by kids who love spooky, scary Halloween. It's not his fault. He doesn't know these things are not from God.
We are having to explain the difference between the light and the darkness. We have to tell him that we, as followers of Jesus, are the light of the world. The Devil is dark and he loves us to be scared, and fearful, and hopeless. But Christ has come to overcome the world. We have come to bring light into the world, and therefore, we cannot love the darkness.
Isn't this awful though? I hate having to "shed light" (pun definitely intended) on the evil that is in the world to my child. He knows there is good and evil, but trying to spell it out for a child isn't fair to him. It's not fair that this world is so corrupt and bankrupt of virtue.
Call me old fashion, but I just want him to grow up with a pure heart and mind.
But, while the devil unfolds his wickedness around our children we will be vigilant in our fight against his evil ways. We will arm our children with the tools they need to be a light in the darkness. We will not shelter them, and hide them away from the world. We will thrust them into it…fully armed with the armor of God.
Ephesians 6: 10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
And lots of prayers from his parents (who will be shaking likes leaves).
I saw this and thought that my boy would love this.
6 comments:
I know I am not a mother yet, but I do have one on the way and I think you are doing exactly the right thing. My parents did exactly what you did. I went to a public school and went through the same issues. As for my husband, he was homeschooled and didn't have to deal with this. But I do believe if you did decide to pull him out, it's not a bad thing and I don't think you are letting the devil win. I think it shows that you are standing up for yourselves. I know homeschooling gets such a bad vibe and I am not saying you are giving it a bad vibe, but honestly now days in the society we live in, I feel it's almost safer. Obviously it's your kids and your life and I don't want you to think I am telling you what to do. But I know you have the right set of mind and will make the right decision. (:
Oh Bek! I am so sorry if I made homeschooling seem like something I don't agree with! I LOVE those who have what it takes to homeschool! It is so admirable to be able to take charge and responsibility over your child's education. I wish I had what it took and I would do it in a heartbeat. My point was that while Josiah is in public education I really wanted him to be a role model of what Jesus looks like. While I support homeschool and Christian education 100% I think that those who can't homeschool or can't afford it private education should absolutely put your child into public education and arm them at home with the tools they need to combat the "world". Thanks for you comment though! I am glad to clarify!
I didn't take it that way at all. Trust me! (: That's why I said I know you aren't giving it a bad vibe. I wish I could trust to put my kid in a public school, but it's so hard with the way the world is getting. It scares me because it was already getting bad when I was in school it seemed like. Anyways, I didn't think you were bashing at all. No worries! I love reading your blog! (:
I too teach our kids not to say that... in fact my 2 year old gasps when she hears people say it and will whisper to me "that person said naughty God." She corrects her Grandma too when she lets it slip. hahaha it's sweet, but it's instilled in her not to speak that way. I'm behind you 100%
I hate the world too. Jo is the smartest little boy and the wisest. He's not just going to make ripples in the other people's lives, he's going to make tidal waves.
It is a wise thing to teach your kids to kick satan in the *^@! at a young age,
Your loving and sensitive Father.
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