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How Do You Deal With Homeschooling Naysayers?

Dealing With the Homeschooling Naysayers Is Part Of Your Witness!

How to Deal With Homeschooling Naysayers

Have you ever heard negative comments about homeschooling from family, friends, or total strangers? How do you respond to that?

  • Do you tell them what’s what?
  • Do you ignore them?
  • Do your children pop in with answers?
  • Have you considered that your answer might be part of your witness?

When people tell me that they send their children to public or private school, I might look like I’m thinking bad thoughts, but I certainly don’t tell them it’s awful. I just don’t do that. It would be, well, rude, right? Why do people think it is ok to tell me how awful it is? [Some people do tell us it is wonderful and appreciate that we are doing it—just so you know.]

How Do You Deal With the Homeschooling Naysayers?

When I was a younger homeschool mom, I could be easily offended. It seemed that the closer the person was to us, the more the negative comments hurt. From strangers, it was annoying, but I could write it off because I felt they were simply foolish and it was not my problem.

But I was wrong to take offense by the friends and family; I was wrong to write off the strangers.

The key words to dealing with the naysayers are hardness and wisdom.

Where is Your Hardness?

Location of your hardness is what makes the difference.

It is very simple. Is it your forehead or your heart that is hardened?

These scriptures show the difference.

Forehead Like Flint

  • As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 3: 9 KJV
  • For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:7

Yes, we need to make our foreheads like flint with faith and determination to keep the decisions God had led us to make. Homeschooling is a good reason to make your forehead like flint. Listening to negative comments might undercut our faith and determination to stay the course. Having a forehead like flint, I think, is also like a shield that helps protect us.

 Stony Heart

  • And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19 KJV
  • A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

Having a hardened heart, because we’ve let the words of naysayers offend and let a root of bitterness build up, will only lead to saying vindictive things, to cutting off relationships, and to trapping us in a snare.

Sweet ladies, God wants to write His law on our hearts. He want us to trade in our hearts of stone for hearts filled with mercy and grace.

What you say to the naysayers is important because it is your opportunity to be a witness. Don’t go beating them over the head with your Bible, either. Speak the truth with grace and mercy. We homeschool because we… God will give you the words.

When they ask questions, answer them with what God is telling you.

For example, how can you homeschool without losing your mind?

His strength is made perfect in my weakness. I pray and ask God for ways to homeschool my children without losing my mind! He always gives me an answer for even the smallest question. If it is something big, then I may have to wait for it. #BeReal

Another example: Aren’t you afraid they won’t be socialized?

Ok, that question makes me laugh—now that I know it’s not a problem at all. How often are you with 30 people born the same year? I used to be afraid and worried at times, but I prayed and gave it to God. He built my faith and calmed my fears.

It is amazing that fitly spoken work will have two results. If the person receives it, it blesses them. If not, they will probably get out of your way as quickly as possible. They aren’t rejecting you, you know.

Are you using these opportunities to bring light and truth to the naysayers? I’d love to hear your comments.

Blessings,
Harriet

Complete Curriculum at Lamp Post Homeschool

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