It seems not very long ago that I was concerned about how I could ever send our daughter to kindergarten. She graduated from The River Academy two years ago, and is now in her second year of college. Even when she was three, I was keenly aware that our daughter was going to walk roads I could not travel with her. As much as we enjoy being together, the question in my mind was always how could we prepare her for her own adventures.
When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment he answered with Deuteronomy 6:4. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 are often discussed in a separate conversation from verse 4, but when Moses spoke the words given to him by God, they were connected as one idea. “These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”.
What I needed to do was teach her to love God and others. How we were to do it was by surrounding her with as many daily opportunities to have conversations about loving God and others as we could fit into a day.
Sending our daughter away from me for a few hours each day, to walk with elementary school teachers who love God and love others was the first step of many. She needed a community of people who may act or think differently than we do, but still loved the Lord with all their hearts, minds, and souls. I know we all have human children; I was counting on it. I enrolled her knowing she would face all the same challenges from her peers that could be found in public schools. The difference was that I knew the adults in her life would use every opportunity to discipline rather than punish, and seek to restore relationships through forgiveness.
Reading ideas from other eras and perspectives, then thinking critically about them with the guidance of her secondary teachers was another deliberate step. The liberal arts and rhetoric classes at River Academy sharpened her ability to read critically, reason logically and speak the truth in love eloquently. We wanted her to grow in an environment where it is normal to talk with adults about questions, doubts, fears, and see that we can stay in community even when we disagree about an idea.
Our daughter now sits in classes at a public school university where the professors tell her that people like her, and those who believe like she does (specifically Christians) are what's wrong with the world. She is confronted by ideas from people who truly intend to help others, yet see the world very differently. I can assure you based upon conversations with friends in private faith-based colleges, they too are facing the same worldview challenges. And no doubt those who chose to go straight into the workforce are confronted with these same conflicting views.
But this is the day we have been preparing for. Her faith is molting as her understanding of God’s character is challenged by people who know about God, but do not know God. Her identity in Christ is tested by the opinions of those who are not his disciples, yet claim to know what Christians think or do.
She knows the difference. And for this we praise God!
Did being taught by teachers who could openly disciple her and teach from a biblical worldview have a lasting impact? Did a classical approach to learning prepare her academically? Was tuition worth the opportunity cost?
Yes, yes, and yes.
-by Anna Peyton
