Teaching Compassion Through Our Past

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It’s October, the season of change—cooler mornings, earlier sunsets, fresh planners, sharpened pencils, and fall routines settling in. While January 1 may mark the calendar’s “new year,” October often feels like the real beginning for homeschool moms like me. It’s when we finally feel our rhythm returning after the unstructured chaos of summer.

And this fall, while beginning a new Bible reading plan, I started in an unexpected place: Matthew 1.

Let’s be honest, the genealogies aren’t usually where we expect to find inspiration. But there, tucked in verses we often skim, God spoke deeply to my heart.

"Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David."
—Matthew 1:5–6 (NIV)

Yes, these are names—fathers and sons. But these are also stories—stories of redemption, pain, courage, and love.

The Legacy Behind Boaz

I’ve always loved the story of Ruth and Boaz. A foreigner and a widow, Ruth finds herself redeemed, restored, and loved. But this time, I focused on Boaz. He was the son of Rahab—a foreigner, a harlot, a woman whose past was tainted by shame. Yet Rahab’s life was radically transformed by God’s grace.

Boaz, having witnessed that transformation firsthand, had a heart that recognized the beauty of redemption. It’s no wonder he showed compassion to Ruth. He had lived with someone who understood brokenness and the miraculous love of God.

Boaz knew that the greatest love often follows great pain. He learned that at home.

What Our Kids Learn from Our Past

As homeschool moms, we’re natural nurturers and protectors. It’s tempting to shield our children from our messy pasts. I know I once did.

I didn’t want to talk about my teen pregnancy. I didn’t want to admit my abortion. I didn’t want to revisit the failures, missteps, or pain. But over time, God gently showed me that my testimony wasn’t a liability—it was a tool.

Through vulnerability, my kids have seen firsthand what God’s grace looks like. They’ve learned to love those on the fringes. They reach out to the brokenhearted. They extend kindness without judgment. Why? Because they’ve seen it lived out. They’ve witnessed transformation.

"He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains."
—Psalm 107:14 (NIV)

Your past, redeemed by Christ, can plant seeds of compassion in your children’s hearts.

5 Ways to Cultivate Compassion in Your Homeschool

You don’t have to carry a past like mine to teach compassion. Here are five ways to foster it in your home:

1. Share your testimony, age-appropriately.

Let your kids hear how God has worked in your life. Transparency breeds trust, and it shows that God is a God of second chances.

2. Choose books that highlight redemption and grace.

Use read-aloud time to explore stories of forgiveness, courage, and love for the outsider. (The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom is a great place to start with older kids.)

3. Serve together.

Visit a local nursing home. Help at a soup kitchen. Make care packages for foster families. Compassion grows through shared experiences.

4. Talk about current events with a biblical lens.

When discussing difficult news stories, guide your children to consider what Jesus would say to the people involved.

5. Pray for those in need.

Create a prayer list as a family for people who are hurting, marginalized, or lost. Make it part of your homeschool morning routine.

Don’t Hide the Mess—Show the Miracle

God can use our pain, just like He used Rahab’s, to build something beautiful. Rahab’s redemption changed her future—and her family’s legacy. The same can be true for you.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
—2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

Dear homeschool mama, don’t be afraid to let your children see how far God has brought you. Those moments of humility will often spark the deepest “Aha!” moments in your children’s hearts—far beyond anything found in a textbook.

Prayer for Today

Lord,
Thank You for rewriting my story. Help me to be honest with my children in ways that show them Your love, mercy, and grace. Use my past to build a legacy of compassion in their hearts. May our home be filled with the joy of redemption and the light of Your truth.
Amen.

Hope and Refreshment for Homeschooling Parents

Need more ideas and advice on homeschooling? Pick up a copy of Homeschool Basics. Receive tried-and-true homeschool advice from veteran homeschooling moms Tricia Goyer and Kristi Clover. We dish out practical help on getting started and staying the course.

Homeschool Basics will remind you that the best homeschooling starts with the heart. Packed with ideas to help you push aside your fears and raise kids who will grow to be life-long learners. Kristi and I believe that homeschooling can transform your life, your home, and your family. Mostly, we believe homeschooling can truly prepare your children for the life God’s called them to live. Don’t let doubts hold you back any longer.

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