Our children's character development is probably the highest priority for most homeschoolers. But how do we develop character? Do we think it will happen without any conscious effort on our part? Certainly children will learn from our example, but something more is needed.

Perhaps you've found some curriculum materials for teaching character. If you have, by all means use it. But as most of us have learned the hard way, curriculum is not the answer to all problems. Curriculum can help us achieve our goals, but without understanding the goals themselves we won't know what problems we're trying to solve.

So what are your character development goals for your children? Yes, we all want children who are polite, well behaved and honest. But as Christians we ought not to settle for the bare minimum the world expects of its children. What about salvation? Of course we want our children to be saved. But again, most of the lost hope their children will go to Heaven (even if they are a little fuzzy about the details of what Heaven is like and how to get there).

Perhaps the goal that should separate us from the world around is that we want our children to be useful to the Lord. Yes this certainly includes salvation, but it also includes so much more. We want our children to be grounded in the Bible, sensitive to the Spirit, seeking God's will, walking with Him, and living a life of service to others which is the natural overflow of an inwardly spiritual life. We want our children to be gentle, humble, forgiving, courageous, steadfast, holy, and patient.

Obviously this is a task which requires more than just the right curriculum! And it is a task any of us would find daunting. Thankfully we are not alone in ths task. The Bible gives us wisdom, the Spirit gives us power, prayer allows us to raise our petitions and we gain help through our church and homeschool communities. The task is great, and you are insufficient for the task. Praise God that He provides more strength than you can muster alone!

In Service,

Shawn