A Lesson from Mr. Vimont

On the Voyage to Know God

Here are a few questions for discussion with your students:

• Why do you think God wants to hear from you?

  • How can He hear from you?

• What do you think is the Holy Spirit’s work?

  • Where is He doing it?

• Why do you thank daddy wants us to go to church every single Sunday?

• Why would God choose to make people AFTER He put other creation in place? What made human beings unique?

• What do we learn about the Gospel that makes us realize we need it day after day after day?

• If Jesus never sinned why does the Bible tell us that He became obedient, as in Phil. 2:8?

These are easy starter questions for helping your child form accurate and Biblical conclusions. In the safety of your own home you need also to talk about difficult political, economic, cultural questions, helping your child make wise decisions.

A Lesson from Mr. Vimont

William Vimont was a personal mentor for me in the 1970s. He relied on God’s Word for answers to life’s problems and developed and made practical, Championship Christian Education.

I want to share an experience with you as an example of living by principle.

My 4th grade son and I were off to a day of fine arts

competition. Excitedly, he anticipated entering his science project and I was glad to finally be getting the white mice from our cellar. We followed tagging and location directions, looked around and left the hall for the other areas he planned to enter. (I had no doubt he would win division grand champion because no other entry came close to the work he had done.)

At 4 in the afternoon the doors to the science hall were opened for the public to view all of the projects and especially to see the ribbons. What a shock when we came to his and instead of a ribbon, there was a note from the judges:

“This is not the work of a 4th grader.

Disqualified.”

Aghast that judges would question the integrity of parents and of the Christian school…

AND

…feeling deeply offended at the hours my 4th grader had spent learning how to do all that his project represented, I needed to defend him!

I thought I would march right out and find those judges and try to offer PROOF that it was the student’s work. “Something” made me take pause and think, “I’ll call Mr. Vimont to be sure I’m doing right.” Would you believe that he answered!?

He listened to my story. He agreed that we had good grounds for argument. Then he gave this advice:

“Is your primary goal and responsibility the training of judges or the training of your son?”

At once I knew that this very specific child needed to learn to “die to self.” I talked with my son about the situation; he was a valiant learner about what happened and how to receive such news.

Still, it was wrong. So, not wanting unfair treatment to students, I did speak with the fine arts committee long after there was any benefit to my son personally.

And judges were trained.

But what came naturally and fair from me to do, was NOT the best training for this very specific student. Please understand that in another situation, you may take a different action. The point then is this: when caught in a difficult and unfair situation, instead of acting naturally, pause and pray. Then ask, “what is God offering me in this? What is God doing?” Then pray again.

These are some of your best child-training opportunities. Receive them like a Champion.

Reading Aloud—Again!

Reading great and godly books together is a valuable reinforcement of the teaching that you want the heart of your children to experience. After years of considering the worth of all ages (Grandma to infant) reading together, I remain believing that there is great merit in it.

If the book is outstanding, watching the hero develop godly character and practice Biblical living is ageless.

I was amazed recently as I read the six Provencher board books, designed for newborn to three-year-olds, how instructional they were for me. Their titles: God; Jesus; Holy Spirit; Church; Creation; and Gospel. Each book explains the teaching from Scripture on the title topic.

Then a book usually intended for middle school and up, The War for Mansoul, Ethel Barrett’s rewrite of Bunyan’s Holy War, is such that much younger and much older will also gain from listening to its great lessons.

Next consider biographies:

Why should we include reading biographies as a family, as a part of each reader student’s curriculum, and as reading opportunities for older students to younger ones?

I’m sure I cannot give you ALL of the reasons that this practice would benefit your family, but please realize that the benefits include:

• Reading biographies give you, in story form, examples of character traits that you want your own family to portray.

• Biographies can serve as a “lecture” that is much better “heard” by your student because it presents an emphasis that you’ve chosen, without directly accusing the listeners.

• Biographies with other read-alouds create memories of coziness and security.

Begin your search for the next read-aloud biography. As you search, you will find good choices for most school-age groups. You might want to choose some for individual reading as well.

I want to spotlight Reformation Heritage Books’ Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr. I just read John Newton. I think there are 20 to choose from. In the Newton biography you will get a picture of a life lost that becomes awakened to the gospel. In Newton, you will see the need for repentance and the forgiveness offered by God through Christ. Then what a picture we get as we see Christ at work through His Spirit in one who is committed and surrendered.

I trust as you close this year and plan the next one, you will choose biographies that encourage knowing, drawing toward, and illustrating God in all of His glory.

Faithfulness

As this year draws to a close, pause for a moment and praise God for His faithfulness AND for Him drawing you to Him and training you in faithfulness.

Who benefits from your faithfulness? Consider these possible scenarios:

• You want your children to know God and have faithfully opened the WORD He has spoken to us.

• You know that learning and growing works better in an orderly environment. You have faithfully superintended “a place for everything and everything in its place.”

• You know that gathering to worship with like-minded believers is part of God’s plan for each believer. You have faithfully prepared for and provided regular in- person church attendance.

• You know that learning is easier if both mother and father share in the training. You have faithfully depicted for your children what it means to enjoy and grow in the understanding of God’s purpose for man and woman.

And the illustrations in your own home could be endless!

2 Thess. 3:3 - “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”

So, resting in the One whose very character is faithfulness, we daily aim at faithfulness – being loyal and steadfast – to God’s call for your family to homeschool, in order that your children have opportunity to know God and all of His ways.

Love, Becky