I just finished watching an old episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition which we had recorded. The family they chose was a family of 13 living in a 900 square foot house in Alaska. The house was horrible and the team did a bang-up job once again, but the thing that impressed me the most, (impressed everyone on the show really) was the love that this family had for eachother, especially the love that the kids had for their mom and the respect that they had for one another and others. This love overflowed to the designers, and the community. These were intelligent, respectful, well-spoken, kind, children (from pre-schooler to college student) and they were HOMESCHOOLED!
Their mother invested TIME and LOVE in teaching them (in the midst of extreme adversity) and it produced quality kids. One of the middle sons knew his mother so well, and had enough maturity, that when he was asked by a designer what she would want most, he said "a family table." The designer was impressed, his brothers were proud of him, his mom said to him, "that was a man, not a boy, that was a man." I can't watch this show without a box of Kleenex beside me!
There are people who think we're crazy. There are people who think we're "sheltering our kids" and homeschooling "out of fear." But the reason we do what we do is because we know that it takes time and work and love to develop these kinds of relationships and to produce godly offspring. I don't know whether this was a Christian family. I did notice that they said, "oh my Gosh" instead of taking the Lord's name in vain, but they weren't giving any glory to the Lord which is what I'd be doing if I were in their shoes, still....home educating your children works! To quote Gena, "Keep them at home where they belong!"
What a positive example on National Television! Thanks, ABC!
Glory be to God in the Highest! |
