Do you want to raise healthy, successful children? Then help them discover their potential.
Wilbur and Orville Wright’s father did that. When his boys were young, he amazed them with a toy helicopter made of thin Balsa wood and a rubber band. The fragile toy soared across the room and opened a door to their imaginations. Years later, Wilbur and Orville identified that moment as the primary influence that sparked their interest in flight.
When Thomas Edison was young, he developed a hearing problem that caused him trouble at school. His teachers considered him “a stupid, slow learner who asked too many questions.” His mother saw something deeper. She not only removed him from school and taught him herself, she encouraged him to turn his questions into discovery. As you know, Thomas Edison grew up to become one of the greatest inventors in history.
It’s equally wise to help your children discover their potential spiritually. Parents often hear the word discipleship and believe it’s a task best handled by their church’s Sunday school or youth group. But children thrive most when their parents have a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus.
To help you develop a practical framework for discipling your children, I’ve invited Barrett and Jennifer Johnson to join me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. Popular speakers on issues related to marriage and family life, they focus on five areas which provide the basis for practical discipleship:
• Abiding – A personal relationship with Jesus is foundational to accomplishing anything as parents.
• Modeling – Discipleship requires living an authentic Christian life in front of your kids.
• Teaching – Parents stop the lies of the world by teaching Truth.
• Applying – Give your children opportunities to live out their faith.
• Connecting – Growth and maturity in your children come from vibrant, loving connection.
Help your child develop a vision for who they can become. Invest in them. Offer words of encouragement that inspire them to see their potential more fully.