 This is first in a the Not About Me November series. Check out the rest of the series here. Did you know the verses about training a child in the way they should go is actually talking about career training. Training a child to use their abilities, talents and resources to make Jesus known is a big stewardship. I am just about to finish Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (which is absolutely fascinating!) and he has gathered a ton of research and basically come to the conclusion that people are good at things because of the time put into it. It's not about how gifted someone is, rather it's about the amount of time they had to devote. He shows example after example of how the opportunities each person was given gave them the gift of time to devote to something that then led to success. So devoted practice time equals success. But of course, we see that all over Proverbs. Seeking, or putting in effort leads to success. So if we want our kids to succeed at things, they just need time devoted to it. So our kids can do anything. That's a scary, weighty and inspiring thought. So how do we decide? Is it what we want them to do or what we think they would like to do? Or is it what fits in the schedule or what we can afford? My husband and I have been wrestling through this question and as a result started a Kids Development Journal.  Our kids exist to glorify God, which basically means to make Him known. In the journal I have made a section for each of our kids and written down their strengths and weaknesses spiritually, physically, socially and psychologically (emotionally and mentally). Then with the end goal in mind of them knowing God and making Him known with their life figuring out which areas we need to focus on. Then with those main ones we can figure out which activities are a best fit for the end goal of our little one's development of being about the global mission of God of making disciples of all nations. We are still young in the process but I am grateful to have a grid to help us navigate what activities to put our time, energy and money toward since there are so many good things. But I believe keeping the end goal in mind will help us not forfeit the best because of the good. Because really our kids development is not about us but about being good stewards of the little souls the Lord entrusted to us. Here's a free printable to help you work through the same things we are with our kiddos. To download just enter your email and click the image of page one below.   About Laura Laura, the creator and host of Missional Women is married and has four kids, two of whom are adopted. Laura and her husband have been missionaries to college students for 11 years serving with Master Plan Ministries. Laura is the Women's Development Coordinator and has discipled over 150 girls, led over 30 Bible studies and speaks to college and women's groups. Laura _has authored 5 books, including an award winning 12 week Bible Study on First Samuel, Beholding Him, Becoming Missional, Reach; How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God, and A Devotional Journey through Judges, a devotional to accompany the free online Bible study at TheBookofJudges.com. You can find her on facebook,twitter, pinterest, youtube, instagram and her author site.
If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right. Sharing this over at these awesome blogs
6 Comments
11/3/2014 12:29:01 pm
I've had this conversation with each of my boys - that their gifts can only take them so far - work ethic and faith take it the rest of the way. When math becomes hard, vocabulary challenging, bench-sitting in sports after years of starting - work ethic needs to kick in (which means intentional self-discipline). I think the hardest part of parenting is backing off after saying this - and letting them come to the same conclusion!
Laura
11/4/2014 08:35:08 am
Teaching them to persevere in doing hard things when they don't want to do... what a challenge that is going to be. There is so much in this world that is easy and clamoring for their attention. Good job persevering!!! 11/3/2014 09:45:16 pm
Okay. I read this and I just started feeling anxious. I'm a counselor and I work with lots of kids, adolescents, and families. I see a lot of stress in families around super-high expectations and disappointment when kids don't get there, or when they make choices that parents were for-sure they trained against! I just said this to a mom the other day: our kids are still going to be living, developing human beings after they leave our homes. We don't have to pack in every single thing in the first 18 years. And you know what, it's really wonderful to be average and ordinary and in love with life as you find it. I don't think our kids need to be The Beatles or Steve Jobs to be happy and fulfilled and living out God-honoring lives.
Laura
11/4/2014 08:54:56 am
Wow. I'm not totally sure how to respond. My intentions are definitely not to make people feel anxious, that is the last thing I am hoping for in this. I actually hope to relieve the anxiety of knowing what activities to put kids in rather than shuttling from here to there every night of the week just because it's the American way or because we can. But I am not really in control of peoples feelings and can't take responsibility for them, though I am sorry you feel anxious about this. 11/6/2014 12:24:10 pm
Watching my children grow into their talents and begin to use their passions for God's glory fascinates me! It also keeps me very humble! I like the idea of the Kids Development Journal. I truly believe that we need to be purpose-filled with our child's development. I had some ideas of my own in training my kids to develop a relationship with God and Godly characteristics. This journal is a good way to focus my ideas. Thank you. Blessings. Leave a Reply. |
