One of the many benefits of homeschooling is focusing on what's important to your family. For many homeschooling families, teaching children to serve in the community, in the church, and in the home are essential life skills and a way to demonstrate the love of Christ.

At HomeWorks, we have talked about service to others in blogs as well in workshops all over the country. Zan Tyler has often mentioned the value of being a robust homeschooling family and how that is crucial to the health of our church and community.

One beloved Christmas song is based on Luke 2:14. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." It was written in response to the American Civil War. I found myself singing this song on several occasions this past year. How I longed to hear those pealing bells. Especially on difficult days.

And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said, "For hate is strong and mocks the song  Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Yet our Bible chimes those beautiful bells every day and they are ringing in our hearts as we reflect on Him.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, 
With peace on earth, good will to men."

There will be peace on earth. We can show good will to men because He shows it to us. Because Jesus is victorious over sin, death, and hell, we can live in full confidence in the days ahead to bring Him glory and to reflect His image by loving and serving others.

"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day 
Their old familiar carols play, 
And wild and sweet the words repeat 
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come, 
The belfries of all Christendom 
Had rolled along the unbroken song 
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, 
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way, 
The world revolved from night to day, 
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, 
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Words: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1864;
Original title from the poem "Christmas Bells"
Music: "Waltham," John Baptiste Calkin, 1872.

In what ways are your children seeing God's good will in your family life? Are they seeing models and opportunities to show good will to others because of the outpouring of God's grace in our lives?
Those wild and sweet words that repeat peace on earth and good will to men are a year-long offering and act of worship to a good Father. We celebrate Christmas at this season- looking to the One who came to save us, to be our peace, and to show us good will. How can we, as families, make that message part of our lives year-round?

Interestingly, I was recently interviewing writers at BJU Press, asking about new materials being written and their vision for homeschooling when they created new lessons. Overwhelmingly, I heard them share the desire to see kids use their skills in these subjects to share the love of God in service to someone else. How could they write a STEM lesson so students could use the end product to help someone in their community? How could a student use a literature lesson to communicate and think critically as she interacts with others?

Here at HomeWorks, we love to talk about education, homeschooling, and Jesus. We believe that using BJU Press Homeschooling materials makes the mission of showing good will toward men an actual and reasonable task because of the tools they provide for your child at every grade level.

As you start a new year, consider as a family how you will serve in your family, church, and community. Consider how the materials you are using to educate your whole child can help you see that service become a reality for the cause of Christ.

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day, 
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, 
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Merry Christmas from HomeWorks!