Mercy Every Minute
Skilled for Life

This article was originally published in the July 24, 2019 issue of The Homeschool Minute.

With five of eight graduated from our homeschool, we have seen those post-homeschool paths take different directions. My first two sons went the university route and both benefitted in their careers because of it. (Their career choices required college degrees.) The next child went to a trade school for equine massage then learned valuable skills as a company’s purchasing manager (and is now a full-time pro-life missionary). The next took several college courses but then went into store management (and is considering going back to school now). The last graduate is learning on-the-job skills in a trade environment (computer layout and design for granite) and is doing very well without college at this point.

As homeschool families, inherent in the way we teach our children, we are actually preparing them for a future of success whether in skills and trades or in a university setting. I would definitely have to say that one option is not better than the other. And personally, I would rather see my adult child love Jesus with all his heart in any kind of job than watch that child become a very successful or intelligent hedonist.

Your children are really not yours after all. God, their Maker, designed each one to be good at certain things, and we must trust Him to bring those forth. Our job is to seek His direction for their schooling. He gives wisdom to those who ask.

And because your children are home-educated, they are the most sought after future students, employees, managers, tradesman, teachers, businessmen, leaders, citizens, politicians, and entrepreneurs. They are the best socialized and civically minded adults. You can see the stats at Homeschooling Grows Up.

Why is this? I believe this is the reward of doing things God’s way: seeking His Kingdom first in their education. And when we do, all these things are added to us. The book of Matthew says if we seek His Kingdom first, all else for this life will be added to us—things that make us intelligent enough to be productive . . . with plenty of food to eat and clothes to wear. We need not worry if we truly are seeking God’s Kingdom first in our children’s education.

Isn’t this home education journey exciting? It truly is an adventure and one of faith. Every day we must put our full trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ and lean hard on Him and not on our own understanding. If we acknowledge Him in all our homeschool ways, He will direct and make our path straight.

Trusting with you,

~Deborah

Related Articles in The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine:

Homeschooling Through College by Matthew and David Bass
The Golden Ticket to Free College by Jean Burk
Educational Options After High School: Traditional and Nontraditional by Rhea Perry

Deborah Wuehler is the Senior Editor and Director of Production for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine. She has eight children ages 11 to 28 and has been homeschooling for over twenty years. Deborah's mission is to point homeschoolers to the Lord in all they do and to encourage them that they can find everything they need for life, Godliness—and homeschooling—in their knowledge of Him (2 Peter 1:3,4).