Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12)

When I planted these crocus bulbs one fall, it was hard drumming up the enthusiam to pull out the gardening tools one last time after a long summer of weeding, transplanting, and tending my already bedraggled garden. We had just welcomed a new baby into the family, homeschooling was just getting into full swing for the year, and my mind and energies were being poured forth onto things other than garden gloves and trowels. But I had already purchased the bulbs on an overly zealous whim (along with bags of tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths), and it would be wasteful to leave them unplanted.

Fall bulb planting requires vision and patience. Unlike spring and summer gardening and the instant gratification of potting colorful annuals in full bloom or sowing seeds that emerge in a few short weeks and produce fruit in the same season, putting bulbs deep into the ground to rest over a long season of winter seems almost futile.

But then, something happens over those cold, lifeless months. Even before the last snow has completely melted away, a few green spikes poke through the hardwood mulch. Soon the colors of spring bloom vibrantly against the browned earth, welcoming a new season of life and growth. It is then that I’m glad I went through the earlier toil of sowing.

Raising godly seed is much the same. It takes work and forethought, sacrifice and hope. It’s an investment of time and energy that sometimes seems like it will never pay off. But God is faithful to his promise that we reap what we sow. What are we reaping today? Are the fruits of training the next generation Christ-honoring, or are they feeding the fallen world? Are we foolishly putting our children into a government school system that embeds atheistic and humanistic philosophies and expecting to reap a good harvest? Or are we taking seriously our calling as Christian parents to plant multi-generational crop of mighty warriors for God’s Kingdom?

We must take time to cultivate our children’s hearts, to sow the seed of God’s Truth in an environment protected from the choking influence of the world’s weeds. We are commanded to “seek the LORD that he may come and rain righteousness upon you” (Hosea 10:12). That’s why we homeschool. And we’re seeing those green shoots springing forth in so many families. These are the children and grandchildren who will make an impact for Christ for generations to come. Praise God!

Doing this radio show was an out-of-the-blue calling for us. When Chicago Christian Talk Radio Station WYLL AM1160 approached us last year, I would’ve rather planted a thousand bulbs in southwest clay than break the unfamiliar ground of radio show hosting. But David, the visionary in our marriage, took me by the hand and we stepped forward in faith. And what a huge blessing it has been! If you would have told us a year ago that we’d be talking one on one with some of the guests we were so privileged to converse with over the past few months, we would’ve laughed. Now we’re thanking God for those opportunities to glean wisdom and motivation from some of the best voices in homeschooling. There were so many others we would’ve loved to have on the show had our resources not limited us.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

As we close out the show this month, we pray that some seeds were sown out there in radio and internet land. Our hope is that God has used the series and continues to use these messages to challenge parents to sharpen their vision for home discipleship and enlighten them in the area of growing their families for His glory. Soli Deo Gloria!

God’s blessings as you

Homeschool for Life!

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