Explain

Some things are difficult to explain!

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin

When they were small, I wanted my kids to understand how to walk with God. In our math program, we used a curriculum to help them SEE how math concepts worked. First, I told them. Second, I showed them. Finally, they showed me. Understanding comes through practice.

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, NIV).

 Hoping to live out the Deuteronomy 6 challenge, I homeschooled my kids. Telling them to love God and love others seemed insufficient to me. I wanted a lifestyle of faith, to tell them, then show them, and finally let them show me they truly understood. It seemed so simple at the time.

Life is messy. I told them everything. I explained the Bible with carefully, prayerfully chosen words. I showed them what faith looks like. My hope is in God’s goodness, not my own. Every time I fell, He lifted me back up. Every time I needed help, God provided for my needs. I did my best to model honest, imperfect trust in God. Jesus was and is my hope.

Now comes the test. How will they show me what they have learned? I pray my adult kids will remember the lessons they were taught as we sat in the house, walked along the road, and loved God from morning till night. 

I look forward to the day when they will explain the love of Christ to me, their mama.

Maybe you aren’t a homeschool Mama like me. What do you long to explain? Who are you trying to reach? Let God give you wisdom to tell them, to show them, and to involve them. May He help you explain the truths that matter most of all.