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Page 2 of 2 As I enter my eleventh year of homeschooling, I feel compelled to break this cycle. I have been giving a great deal of thought to my vision of homeschooling, my vision for my family. What am I trying to build? What am I trying to accomplish? I turned to Webster's 1828 dictionary to understand the word "vision" and found that there are two primary uses of the word. A vision is either something imaginary or supernatural, as a specter, or it is the act of seeing an actual object. The sentence given to illustrate the latter definition is wonderful — "Faith here is turned into vision there." God has given me a vision for my family and has called me to homeschool my children as part of that vision. In order to hold that vision in focus, it is imperative that I turn to its Artist and place my faith in Him. Only by doing this will that vision be realized as something that can actually be seen with the human eye. As I toil over my lesson plans, I must ask God what He would have me teach my children. I must ask Him to help me schedule my day, help me understand my children, help me run my household. I want to look through HIS eyes. I want my vision to be HIS vision.
The following item, which was circulated via e-mail recently, has had a huge impact on my life —
REFINER'S FIRE
Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse:
And He [God] shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).
One lady decided to visit a silversmith to learn about the process of refining silver. After the smith had described it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"
"Oh yes, Madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?"
"Why that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."
How do I maintain my vision? How do I keep from burning out three times a year? How do I build patience into my character and stay on course in my desire to train my children? Rather than being the primary craftsman in molding my children, I need to be, instead, an apprentice. I need to sit by the side of the Silversmith and fix my eye steadily on Him, as he fixes His eye steadily on each child. As He leads me in fulfilling my tasks in the areas of reading, writing and arithmetic, may I remember why I have chosen this lifestyle — I want to see HIS image in the silver of my children. May this vision be the one that drives me daily. May this prayer be the one on my lips as I greet each new school day: "Lord, use me to do Your will in my children's lives. Use our lifestyle to draw us closer to You. Help me to teach my children in the way You desire. Keep us on track and renew our enthusiasm so that we will continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge of You."
Copyright 2001, Mary James. Article may not be reprinted in any form. For permission to reprint, contact the author at
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or (512) 639-9341.
This article first appeared in the August, 2000, issue of the Texas Home School Coalition REVIEW magazine, distributed quarterly to readers free of charge. The REVIEW focuses on current events, thoughts from home school leaders, and resources and services to help with teaching at home.
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