Gba ohun èlò náàBeing Students of Our Children: A 3-Day Parenting PlanÀpẹrẹ
Awards Assembly
He who seeks good finds goodwill.
Proverbs 11:27
For years, Roger had poked and prodded Gordon, his oldest son, to be a better student. Roger was always a little disappointed in Gordon and his B-average grades. He never quite measured up to Roger’s expectations.
When Gordon was a senior in high school, Roger was puzzled by an invitation to a student awards assembly. He couldn’t imagine any awards that Gordon would win. Roger went to the event anyway, but grew increasingly annoyed at watching other students march up the aisle for applause. Why was he here? Why was his son so mediocre? Finally, the principal came to the last presentation—a new award for an exceptional student. Roger was astonished to hear Gordon’s name announced, followed by a long description of his son’s fine character, kindness, trustworthiness, and quiet leadership. The principal finished by thanking Gordon, saying, “No one who has really gotten to know you will ever be quite the same again.”
Roger had never gotten to know his son, much less appreciate him for who he was. In his efforts to teach and “improve” Gordon, Roger became blind to his son’s best qualities. It reminds us of this Proverb: “He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it” (11:27). Teach your children, but remember also to seek out and acknowledge their positive traits. You’ll discover a son or daughter to be proud of.
Before you say good night . . .
- Are you overlooking any of your children’s positive traits?
- How might you change the way you “value” your kids?
Heavenly Father, teach us to value our children for who they are, rather than who we wish them to be. Help us to know their thoughts and dreams, their strengths and weaknesses, their fears and failures. Enable us to love them unequivocally, just as You love us. Amen.
Excerpted from Night Light for Parents, used with permission.
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children . . . For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:7, 11-12, ESV)
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. (Heb. 11:20, ESV)
Ìwé mímọ́
Nípa Ìpèsè yìí
As our children grow and begin making choices and taking interest in subjects and activities that are expressions of the ways God has uniquely designed them, we may find we don’t know them as well as we thought. We may feel that we don’t understand them well enough to confidently provide direction and encouragement. Let’s think this week about how we can learn more about what appeals to our children.
More
