In his book, Don’t Waste Your Life, John Piper challenges fellow Christians to take advantage of every opportunity to serve the Lord by serving others, with no regrets. It’s so easy to get caught in the pursuits and busyness of life that we fail to reflect on whether or not we are maximizing the gifts God has given us in a way that glorifies and honors Him. The tragic result is a wasted, squandered life, one that fails to advance God’s purposes and his Kingdom.
I couldn’t help thinking of the parallels with education. As parents, we only have one opportunity to educate our children. After thirteen years of schooling, what do hope to accomplish? I assume we all share certain outcomes that we desire in our children, including:
- That their affections (i.e. their “loves”) be cultivated in a manner consistent with the life of Christ: that faith, hope, and love would permeate their being and infuse their daily commitment and spiritual walk;
- That they be learned in the areas of literature, history, Bible, language, music, art, writing, science, language, philosophy, and math;
- That they grow with and among their peers in community, learning how to befriend others and be socially gracious, compassionate, and graceful;
- That they experience other things in addition to academics, whether it be on the athletic field, on stage, or behind a podium defending their views with wisdom and eloquence;
- That they be prepared to boldly and lovingly engage the battle of ideas in a secular culture, knowing what they believe and why they believe it while spreading the gospel in their various vocations.
The type of education parents choose for their children is one of the most important decisions we will ever make. In talking with a prospective parent (now a Providence parent) years ago, he said that sending his children to his local public school was costing him too much. Costing too much? He explained: what he was trying to teach his kids was opposed and assaulted on so many levels that he could not in good conscience continue to “pay” for the costs of that choice. In other words, he could no longer afford to waste his children’s education.
Thank you for choosing to partner with Providence if your children already attend Providence. We are grateful for your commitment to the school. If you are looking for a school for your children, thank you for considering us. We look forward to getting to know you and having you know us
