Radical Wisdom: A 7-Day Journey For FathersSample

You Get What You Glorify

Have you ever watched as a young girl is “made up” by her mom, being introduced to makeup, rouge, eyeliner, and lipstick while still a child? Then she’s told how beautiful she is, not because she is, but because she (or her mom) is trying so hard.

Have you been to a little league game and watched as the dad screams with delight over his son’s base hit or home run? High-fives everywhere as he slides in and scores.

I’ve lived long enough to see some of those young boys and girls become men and women, and I’ve come to see that you get what you glorify!

When we spend hours and countless dollars dressing our children and adolescents to the nines, we’re going to get “clotheshorses” when they grow up. When the only thing our sons get glory for is sports performance, we’re going to get jocks when they get older.

There is nothing wrong with clothes or makeup, nothing wrong with sports.

But be aware of what you’re glorifying in your kids.

In my lexicon, the word “glorify” is interchangeable with the word “praise.” What you praise in your kids is what they’ll pursue for themselves as they grow up.

Consider glorifying your child’s kindness for others. Catch them doing something for their brother or sister. Praise them for it. Glorify them for praying, reading the Bible, asking about Jesus, and giving money to the church, to charities, or to the poor.

Remember, you’re always leading. The question is to where.

Question: Will you lead by glorifying what you hope to get when your kids grow into adulthood?