Your Child's Way

On my way home today I was listening to Chuck Swindoll and he was talking about the Bible verse 'Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.'  Proverbs 22:6.  Many people claim that verse for their wayward child.  Chuck explained it a bit differently than most people claim it.  I must do this disclaimor and that is I did not hear the whole sermon, but he did say that most people claim this verse without understanding its true meaning.

The part I am going to focus on is 'in the way he should go'.  Chuck explained this part as understanding your child's gifts and talents and teach them how to use them.  He said that each child God has given you has unique talents and gifts and your job as a parent is to teach your child in the way they should go in those gifts and talents.  As a parent you need observe your children and truly see them as a gift from God. See how He has created your children and teach them to use those gifts and talents for God's glory. 

If your child sees themselves through the eyes of how God created them it will in the end help them to develop a strong relationship with Him.  It will help them to have a healthy self esteem and help them to become who God made them to be.  When I say a healthy self esteem I mean to understand that they are God's creation and to give glory where it belongs and that is not in themselves, but in who their creator is.

If you as a parent focus on what your child is not it will bring anger and rebellion, but if you focus on who God made your child to be it will bring a healthy view for your child to see who God made them to be.  This does not mean that if your child does not do good in math that you don't teach them basic math so they can balance a check book.  It means you focus on the positive gifts and talents and teach your child how to deal with the things that do not come naturally.

I have a cousin whose son was extremely intelligent.  He would read encyclopedias for fun.  She let him pursue his acedemics wholeheartedly, but she also made him sign up for one sport.  He signed up for baseball.  He did not make first string, but he did enjoy baseball and it did help round him out.  Did she focus on baseball??  No, it was something she felt he needed to do to round out his personality.  She did not take away from his gifts and talents, but she did help round off some of the rough edges and help him with physical and social skills.

As a parent observe and find your child's way.  Rejoice in your child's way and give glory where it belongs and that is to God.  If you do this with each child it will give them a healthy self esteem and a love for God and others in the way God created them.

Proverbs 22:6  "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."