My parents were pioneers in the homeschool movement. They took responsibility for educating their children before the general public even knew it was an option. I’m grateful for how they set me up for a lifetime of striving to be faithful to Christ and fulfill my God-given potential. Here are a few of the ways that homeschooling made a difference for me.
1. I “owned” my faith.
Kids’ faith in God is not their parents’ faith in God. It’s their own.
My parents encouraged me to take my faith seriously and take responsibility for it. They showed me that faith is like a muscle. The more you train it, the bigger it gets.
Encourage your children to pray, to study His Word, to seek Him. The more they trust Him with the small things, the quicker they can trust Him with the big things.
2. I discovered the right motivation for doing the right thing.
As I was growing up, my parents created for us five kids a rewards program called Daddy’s Dollars. Every time someone outside our family said something nice about our character, Dad would give us a dollar. I tell you what, I worked really hard for compliments.
When I was around nine or ten I realized how empty it was to do nice things for a dollar. It dawned on me that I should be most concerned to please God.
Get your kids to consider whether they are doing the right thing because you, their youth group leader, or an older sibling is watching—or because it’s simply the right thing to do.
3. I moved past my fears.
As a child, I wasn’t comfortable speaking in public. My parents took notice of this, and they started signing me up for activities where I needed to stand in front of a crowd and talk, even sing.
Mom and Dad weren’t being mean or setting me up to fail. They were challenging me to go outside my comfort zone so I would learn to rely on God and grow as a person. Isn’t that something you want for your students too?
Funny, today I talk all the time at events in front of small crowds and big ones. And while I still get nervous every now and then, I love sharing what God places on my heart.
4. I learned to chase my goals.
When I was growing up, my parents would ask us kids to write down our goals. Mine were pretty much always the same: become a baseball player, football player, Navy SEAL, or be a better brother.
Mom and Dad would also help me figure out the specific steps I would need to take to accomplish what I wanted to achieve. I didn’t always accomplish everything I wanted. But I always noticed some growth.
Encourage your kids to have goals. But don’t let these goals remain in the realm of mere dreams. Help them clarify, test, and pursue their goals.
About the Author
TIM TEBOW is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Shaken. He has also just published a brand new book for homeschoolers, Know Who You Are. Live Like It Matters: A Homeschooler’s Interactive Guide to Discovering Your True Identity. (Read or download chapter one here.)
Tim is a two-time national champion, first round NFL draft pick, and Heisman trophy winner. After playing in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets, Tebow joined the SEC Network. In addition to his role on SEC Nation, the network’s traveling road show, Tebow contributes to a variety of other ESPN platforms. In fall 2016 he signed a baseball contract with the New York Mets. Through it all, Tim’s true passion remains the work of the Tim Tebow Foundation which he began in 2010. The foundation’s mission is to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The foundation is fulfilling that mission every day by serving thousands of deserving children around the world.
Sneak Peek!
Get a sneak peek into Tim’s book for homeschoolers!
