Education: Faith vs. Fear

I have the great privilege of working in an environment that partners closely with families, parents as well as their children. Thus, I have opportunities to talk with parents on a regular basis, and I have learned a great deal from them. However, in the years I have been at this, I have come to observe that there is one dominant motivating factor in how parents raise and educate their children, and that factor is fear.

Parents are afraid. They are afraid that their kids may be in the wrong school, that their kids may be in the wrong classes, have the wrong teachers, get poor grades, won't get on the team, won't get enough playing time, won't do well on the standardized tests, won't get the scholarships, won't get the recognition, won't have Nick Saban recruit them, won't get into the right college or university, etc., etc. Parents are afraid.

As a parent, I understand the fear. When we homeschooled our kids, we were fearful that they were missing something by not being in a traditional school environment. When our kids went to a small traditional school, we were afraid that the kids were missing out on activities and opportunities of a larger school. Now that they are in that larger school, we are afraid they are missing out on the benefits of smaller classes and a more controlled social environment. So I get it.

But something somebody once said (or wrote) reminded us that we are Christian parents, and as Christian parents, we do not raise our children in fear but in faith. God makes promises to us and to our children about us and our children. And when God makes promises to us about us and our children, we are called to believe them. Examples of such promises are found in the following: Gen 17.7-9; Psalm 102.28; 103.17-18; Luke 1.48-50.

If one thing stands out from these, and many other verses, it is that God is a covenant making and covenant keeping God. He condescends and enters into a relationship with us in Christ and thus loves us immensely. Therefore, we can be certain that whatever comes our way comes from the hand of God and is given for our good and his glory. I understand that this is hard to believe when you're Job sitting under the tree with dogs licking you and three friends who you really wish would stay quiet, but just because it is hard doesn't mean it isn't true.

What this has meant for us as Christian parents is that we trust (our faith being feeble) that God is the one leading, providing for, protecting, sanctifying us and our children. He will take care of us and them, whether we homeschool, small school, large school, scholarships, no scholarships, Nick Saban, no Nick Saban, and yes, even when one of them is facing a really hard PreAP-PreCal test.

So do not fear. Be at rest. Be at peace. He is taking care of you and your children.