God-Confident Kids By Cyndie Claypool De Neveናሙና

Day Three

Called by Name

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1

Emphasizing self-confidence can backfire in two ways. First, when a person stumbles, it can be hard to get back up if they believe only in self-reliance and self-assurance. When they get knocked down, who will help them up? Second, if people find success in themselves alone, they can be at risk for becoming narcissistic and overconfident, developing a cockiness that makes them feel they are better than others. 

Once upon a time, when a student got in trouble at school, the parents would be called in to help enforce the punishment. Several friends and relatives of mine who work in schools report that’s not always the case anymore. They’ve seen an increase in parents who storm in mad, accusing the teacher of being at fault and defending the student’s bad behavior and poor choices. Instead of trying to help the student grow into a healthy, humble member of society, these parents feel it’s their job to insulate the student from any negativity. But that only grows overconfidence, pride, and narcissism. 

As a parent, I totally get it. When my children were younger, I thought they were extremely adorable and entertaining. Truth be told, I still think they’re adorable and entertaining, even as teens and young adults! I often wondered how others saw my kids, but I couldn’t pry my rose-colored glasses off my mom face even when I tried. I had to remind myself in those times when they got in trouble or someone said something negative about them that maybe there was truth to it.

It’s okay to think the world of your children. It’s okay to tell them they’re your favorite children, because . . . they should be! Just be aware that they are your favorite children. Sure, they are good at some things, but they are not good at everything. And just because you think the world of them doesn’t mean there isn’t room to improve.

As we help our kids focus on God’s purpose for them, our view changes as well—from affirming what they can do or how they compare to others to celebrating who God has called them to be.

What do you like best about your child(ren)? Think of character traits rather than abilities or accomplishments.