To Value And Accept

Encourage, motivate, value these are all words that we should be focusing on with our kids. The kids in our homes, our schools and our communities. Too often we are pushing them toward goals, criticizing them for their failures and pointing out their fails. Gone is the time of just hanging out and listening to what makes them tick and how they see themselves fitting into the world around them. Bullies are not just peers who expect them to fit in but can be teachers and parents who demand they continue a sport or get the grade to prove their worth.

'Do everything in love.' 1st Corinthians 16:14. What a challenge. To accept others just as they are and not to push them to be what we believe they need to be. With our best intentions we line up just so all the activities and friendships we are convinced will grow our young ones to successful, productive lives.

There is a saying that we were given 2 ears and only 1 mouth so we would listen twice as much as we speak. Boy am I bad at this. Especially with my own kids. I succumb to the philosophy of 'IF ONLY.'

IF ONLY they would do it my way is the truth of the situation. Letting kids have the reins is difficult if not impossible. We get caught up and forget that it will be okay even if it is not our way. Their own internal wisdom is so much greater than we give them credit for.

 Ultimately in life, it doesn't matter if they played t-ball or joined scouts or got into toe shoes. anWhat matters is that they felt valued for climbing a tree or building a snowman or falling on their face in an audition. Valued in their successes and their defeats allows them to take the risks to be exactly who they are meant to be. Self-worth encourages them to be honest when an activity is just not for them and when something else is their dream come true.

Acceptance: The action or process of being received as adequate or suitable just as we are.

Let's begin to accept and value others instead of always guiding them. Tougher to do than it sounds.

In Him,
Joyful
3-14-13