Monday, July 31, 2006

Life in a bubble

Yes, I grew up in a bubble. You know, the kind homeschoolers are accused of raising their kids in. We were sheltered as much as possible from harmful influences. We dressed differently, we didn't go to movies (still do and still don't) among other things. My mom was ridiculed by her peers for her "protecting" us. They all probably thought that I would grow up to be the first Baptist nun!
We were thought to be legalists, like others we knew. I am sure they thought that I'd rebel against the oppression and when I had the chance, I'd leave behind all their "rules"

So, how did I turn out? Let me tell you. First, I never did rebel against my folks. I married at 20, happily so, pure, chaste. My husband is a missionary, a faithful servant of God. I don't rebel against him either. He is extremely grateful to my folks for having protected me. He likes knowing that he is my one-and-only. My convictions are the same I grew up with, but they became mine long ago, way before I married and left home. He loves my modest clothing, knowing that my body is his alone.

We have 2 beautiful children, tender-hearted towards God.
My 10 year old daughter has the same convictions I do, and they are hers by her own desicions. We tell her what to do, then we tell her the why behind it. She gets it. She serves God in many ways here in our Church. We protect her in the same ways I was protected. We love her and she loves us. We are preparing her for the day when she will want a husband and home of her own.

Our son is still small, but we will try to instill godly manhood in him. We will teach him to be pure, same as his sister. No double standards here, thank you very much.

This bubble is a good place, its called home. We've got a mutual-admiration society going on here. There is no tension, no rebellion here. I love him, he loves me, we love the kids. Its so sweet, you could get a tooth ache! All kidding aside, life is good.

People may criticize living a sheltered life. Since when is shelter a bad thing? Do you want to sleep outside in the cold of winter? No, you seek shelter. Women have told me they wished they had lived the life I had.

Sheltered, loved.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Praise God for a sheltered life!! I didn't have the privilege of having a sheltered life. My parents were and still are lost. Therefore...so was I!! Had I lived a sheltered life like we are giving our children I could have possibly avoided some very damaging things that I did and that happened to me. My children (1 son and 2 daughters) are raised with strict standards as well. The girls and I don't wear pants...neither my husband nor my son wear shorts or go without a shirt on. They don't even wear sleeveless muscle shirts. We don't go to the movies. We don't have cable in our home. We don't even rent movies from the rental places (we see that as the same thing as going to the movies). Believe me...we get ridiculed alot and get told we are carrying things too far. I'm sorry but we carry things as far as we think God wants us to in order to protect our testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. We attempt to abstain from all APPEARANCE of evil...not just the evil itself. My girls have told me they have the same convictions as we do...my son on the other hand says he is going to change some things when he gets a home of his own. We are praying for him. We realize that we can only train them up and show them from God's Word how God sees things...its up to them to believe and adopt those convictions for themselves. My son "strayed" in his beliefs in certain areas due to working with lost men and some of his childhood friends that were raised with the same standards going out and doing contrary to what they were taught too. Peer pressure is real!! You and your hubby keep doing what you're doing. I know that God will bless you for it. He has already blessed us for it. If we only have one that doesn't do "right" when they leave home then those are too bad of odds...although we'd like to see all three go God's way. Love you Sis!!

Rhonda in Chile said...

Sis Julie,
When DH and I were courting, he was newly saved and didn't "get" all our convictions. He said that things would be different if we ever had a child. Ha! They will be different, MORE sheltered!
I am sure your son will see things differently as he grows older. God is faithful.
Love you too,
Rhonda

Kristi said...

Good post, Rhonda. I homeschool my three with the same convictions and we, on occassion, get the same questions and stares. Oh well...whatever! LOL

~Kristi

Dawn said...

How do you get the great music in the background? I love it.

You'll find in my posts that I led a pretty "bubble" life as well. Loved it and tried to do it for my kids - didn't work out as well! But God is faithful.

Dawn said...

I'm glad your experience at the Nazarene school was a good one!

Rhonda in Chile said...

Hey Kristi and Dawn!
The Bubble can be a good place!

The wonderful music can be found over at Tori's, A home away from home, check my blogroll. I haven't put up a sidebar thingy to give proper credit or link. Sorry!

R

Courtney, Jer.33:3 said...

Thank God for my bubble!! :)

Bethanie said...

I went to public school...a crummy one at that. In my circle I was considered sheltered. But now reading your blog and others I wish I had been kept even closer. My husband had a completely unsheltered childhood and he definatly realizes what he lost because of it. When we get a child of our own we know how not to raise him/her.

Cherish the Home said...

This is awesome Rhonda!

Rhonda in Chile said...

Hello, Courtney, Bethanie, Mrs.B,

Bubbles can be wonderful or they can be prisons of bitterness.
Looks like Courtney and I were blessed!
R

theups said...

Thank you for sharing this!!! We've been accused of sheltering, too, and I LOVE to hear of adults still living out what their parents taught!!! Thank you so very much for this encouragment to keep doing exactly what we're doing- following the convictions that the Lord has given us.

His,
Mrs. U

Arlene said...

I'm thankful for my bubble, too, Rhonda! When I was a teenager and had my first "real" job (at the golf course snack bar), everyone thought I was crazy because I didn't drink, smoke, sleep around (I was 16, and they thought I should be doing those things!?!), etc. But you know what? I entered marriage pure, and have no regrets about it; I don't have to worry about diseases, lung cancer, liver problems, or any other things. Now people think I'm weird because I wear skirts... but eventually, it comes out that they wish they had been raised and sheltered (why is that used to be a bad word these days???) just as I was. Nathan and I fully intend to LOVE our children, just as our parents loved us. Thanks for the encouragement to do what's Biblically right, Rhonda! :)

Tami said...

I didn't grow up in that bubble (yet the Lord sheltered me from so much). I married young and my husbnad and I got saved within months of each other ~~ and now.....

We have raised all of our children in that bubble you talk about. Our children range in age from 20 to 6 and all are serving the Lord joyfully. We had some bumps in the road - but nothing that ever took our eyes off the Lord or each other.

Our children are a blessing to us and they are thankful for how they have been raised. The older ones see other teens and realize just how blessed they are to have a family that sits around a table together every day, shares together, laughs together, cries together, and reads their Bible and prays together. And yes, our convictions have become their convictions.

I thank God that He shelters me and my husband and I will continue to shelter our children! And isn't it encouraging to know you're not alone in your standards and convictions.

Rhonda in Chile said...

Hi, Mrs.U, Arlene and Tami, Welcome to my Bubble!

What is interesting is that I haven't heard any one say that they hated their bubble. I know there are some, maybe a lot, but they know why theirs wasn't so great.

Blessings to you!!!

R

Pfingston said...

Did grow up in a bubble but was surrounded by love.

I am now considering homeschooling my own children. My brother will say that he hasn't met a "normal" homeschooled person yet. And is that such a bad thing?

In college I got the worlds view of marrage, family and the like and it was UGLY. Later God taught me that the worlds way DOES NOT have to be our way. The difference is Jesus, and we can grow up and raise our children outside of this worlds "norms" and thats good -