Faith in Parenting

This week we focused on how to cultivate our children’s strengths. If someone asked you right now what your kids’ strengths are, what would you say? What ideas would immediately roll of your tongue? What sets them apart from others?

Some of their strengths are immediately obvious. Perhaps your child is great with numbers, is naturally athletic, or is extremely empathetic with others.

Now, dig a little deeper. What are some of the under-developed aspects of your child’s personality or character that you might be able to help him or her cultivate? What potential do you see? And what might be the natural result of these characteristics without your intentional guidance?

During the call (which you can listen to online by selecting “Support Call Archive” in the sidebar to your right), I shared that my daughter is a very passionate person. At 4, I can tell you that this sometimes poses a challenge for me. But when I shift my focus off of the inconvenience of her being passionate about - say, her perspective of what’s “fair” - to envisioning the potential that’s wrapped up in that part of her, I begin to look at things a bit differently.

Instead of passionate and dramatic, I’m thinking of how she has the potential to grow into an extremely compassionate young woman, able to put herself into another person’s shoes and even stand up for those around her.

And the beauty of it is that when I see the challenges of tempering her passion (at times) through that lens of potential, it changes how I deal with it in the moment.

How about you? What are some of the more challenging aspects of your kids’ personalities, and how might you be able to influence them for good in how you choose to respond?

Also, how can you honor your kids where they’re at, and how might that free them to further develop their unique strengths? For more on this topic, listen to the entire support call recording.

Our calls will still take place on “Tuesdays at 2:00,” but we’re now using a different conference call center, which means that both the phone number and access code have changed. The new phone number is (218) 486-1300, and the access code is 669379.

In addition, I wanted to point out two changes that may affect readers who to listen to the audio recordings of our support calls online:

1. The calls will now be available on a separate web site. To make it easy for you to find the most recent audio recordings, I’ve also added a permanent link on the sidebar to the right, titled “Support Call Archive.”
2. The audio recording of each support call will be available for four weeks.

If at any time you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I have a friend who is pregnant right now with a very active little baby! He seems to be in constant motion within her belly, and we’ve joked about what an athlete he’s going to be.

I can remember, too, being pregnant with my son and noticing that each time we sang in church, he became particularly active; and I wondered if he would grow up to love music. (And I have to say that he is one who, to this day, is constantly humming or singing along with the radio!)

What about your kids did you notice from “day one” that has proved to be true about them as they’ve grown older? What’s unique about them? How are they different from their siblings, and how does this lead you to parent them differently?

This week on our “Tuesdays at 2:00” support call, we’re going to talk about how to parent our children as individuals. Each one is special and was intentionally knit together by God. He designed their personalities, their interests, and their quirks. Let’s explore the potential we see in what God has created, and how He might be calling us to affirm and shape our kids’ individual uniquenesses as they grow into adulthood.

In addition, please note that this week we’re going to meet on a different telebridge line. Here are the details:

Directions for Joining Us on the Weekly Support Call:

• Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2007
• Time: 2:00-2:35 PM (ET)
• Telephone Number: (218) 486-1300
• Access Code: 669379

As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Luke 1:30-35

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Reflections:

Lord, help us to see the Bible as one complete story. Help us to see in our hearts how You planned Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection - not as a last resort - but as part of your intentional plan to communicate the very personal and enduring love you have for each one of us.

In addition, help us to see where we fit into the story even today. What unimaginable tasks might you be calling each of us to in this season in our lives? Will we, like Mary, respond with complete trust and obedience, or will we choose to ignore your precious tug on our hearts, calling each of us into a deeper relationship with you?

Show us what that means, too, Father! Reveal your presence in our lives and turn our minds first to you when we need to talk. Remind us that you are always present and always listening! ~Amen.

Are you looking for a simple way to make your own Advent calendars? Here are some easy ideas:

• Print out your own Advent calendar template and let the kids color or decorate it for themselves. This template is one that I made based on a Christmas card we received several years ago. As you open each window, you read another segment of the Christmas story.
• Make an Advent chain. Staple together strips of green and red construction paper to make a chain. If you want, you can write Bible verses on each link, or perhaps a simple idea for serving someone else during Advent. (For example, “Set the table.” “Make your sister’s bed today.”)
• Make a chocolate Advent calendar using Hershey kisses!