How I Teach My Child About Jesus

We’ve only just begun our journey into home education. Admittedly homeschool preschool isn’t all that glorious; nor does it make me a seasoned homeschool mom. Yet, I’ve spent the better part of my summer considering what I want my homeschool preschool to look like come mid-August.

Better yet, I’ve been considering what I want our homeschool to look like period – not just preschool but beyond.

As I’ve researched all my child needs to learn in the coming year, I admit that I started getting lost in it all. I’ve mulled over math curriculum that I know I won’t start for at least another year. However, I begin now because these things take time, research, and prayer.

I’ve read how other moms help expand their children’s worldviews, and I’ve dreamed about how often we can take our homeschool on the road.

I’ve considered curriculum to teach my child phonics and art programs that go beyond just crayons and paper (though I have plenty of room in my day for crayons and paper!).

I’ve read about how important nature is for children and what sort of everyday learning takes place in the kitchen.

I’ve soaked up the words of other moms, researchers, and teachers for months, and yet I always came back to this one thought:

Jesus is the only reason I homeschool.

I want each of these subjects and lessons to point to Christ. How can I best teach my son the Bible, discipling him, and leading him daily to the foot of the Cross?

All of creation speaks to God and His glory.

I know that.

But how do I tell him that? How do I teach my child about Jesus?

I want my child to learn to read because I want him to read scripture on his own.

I want him to learn to count so that he may understand the wonder of the world being created in seven days, or the grueling length of 40 long years in the wilderness, or the importance of the third day, or a Sabbath rest.

I want him to create art with his hands and appreciate the beauty of music.

I want him to build gross motor skills so he can serve others with the strength of his arms.

I want to teach my son that even though he is little, he can still be a part of God’s work here on earth.

Because he can. He can serve God even now and begin to learn and grow in God’s ways.

But I often wonder if what I’m doing is enough. Am I doing it right? Does he know grace? Does he know Mommy needs Jesus too – that we’re in this together? Does he know how the story of Samson, that he loves so much, points to Jesus as the Messiah?

Well I don’t know these answers.

But I do know that on a sunny day while I mopped the kitchen floor, a mundane everyday moment, my son pulled out a piece of brown yarn, white construction paper, and scissors and began to create.

As I scrubbed strawberry juice and bananas off the floor, he asks, “Mommy, will you help me? I want to make a cross so I can make Jesus died on the cross.”

I helped him glue down the yarn and left him to his project.

A few minutes later, he pulls out red tissue paper and says, “Mommy, this is Jesus’ blood.”

I sat down beside him.

The rest of what he explained I wrote down as he created the story from his mind because I didn’t want to forget it.

I had no part in this except to help him where he asked for help with a difficult cut or glue that wouldn’t stick. He found all the materials and created this from his little mind.

I let him create.

I let him explore.

I let him express.

We haven’t been using a Bible curriculum or plan. We’ve not been doing daily Bible reading with a go along craft lately. But on this day God reminded me of what is most important.

Loving Jesus like crazy in front of my child, with my child, and alongside my child matters … and works.

“Our love for God is the foundation for anything we have to say. We cannot impress our children with the fame of God’s name if we are not impressed with him ourselves. If the truths about God’s sovereign power and incredible mercy have melted our hearts and produced a profound love for God, we will impress our children with his awesome glory. If God’s Word is dear to us, it will be important to our children. We must be dazzled by God. We cannot give away what we don’t have.” ~Instructing a Child’s Heart by Tedd and Margy Tripp

Right now, my son still can’t say the ABC’s without skipping “J,” and he can only count to twelve. He can’t spell his name, nor can he recognize all the letters in the alphabet yet.

He may not be up to par according to others’ standards, but he far exceeds expectations in the areas that matter most to our family.

He knows who Jesus is. He knows why He came to earth, and he knows that Jesus died for our sins.

This picture, this moment was God’s reminder to me that we’re on the right track.

We don’t always get it all right, and we mess up a lot. We miss opportunities to share the gospel with our son, and we lose our patience far too often.

But in the end, I don’t have to worry about how I will teach my child about Jesus. What matters is that I love Jesus like crazy, and that’s what my child will learn the most from.

Have you ever thought about how your walk with the Lord affects your children?

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