Family Feature

HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR FAMILY       

Article by Rev John Simpson     

1. Every child (yes, including that difficult one!) has an enormous range of personal gifts and graces. The privilege of parenthood is to tap into this extraordinary God-given potential.   
2. The parents who can best discover these qualities are those who have discovered their own strengths, abilities and limitations. The parents secure with this knowledge will be keen to help their children in their own journey of discovery. 
3. What does your child do well? Read? Draw? Create? Write? Play? What about your young person? What are their special gifts and abilities? Think carefully. Make a list. Then look out for ways to encourage and affirm them.   
4. Look for potential; ignore the rough edges. It is what might be there that really counts. Be prepared to spend the time to encourage the young writer, cricketer, dancer or ideas person. In time, you will be awe-struck with what may emerge. 
5. Be especially careful with the daydreamer. There may be a wonderful imagination brewing, or a deep thinker coming to the boil. The world needs a few more dreamers, visionaries and thinkers. You may be lucky enough to have one.  
6. Don't make comparisons with other children, particularly brothers and sisters, This leads to unhealthy competition. Most parents are constantly amazed by the variety found in their own children. Enjoy the differences and make allowances for them. 
7. Make plenty of space available for personal exploration. For example, this will certainly mean a mess in the kitchen when the would-be chefs get underway. The future mechanic may spread grease and tools around the back shed or garage. Care and confidence will come with patient tutoring.   
8. Warmly express your appreciation for a task completed. Do not look for perfection. Higher levels of skill will come with time and practice. If you like a super tidy house, you may have to relax the rules a little.   
9. Don't forget to have a growing edge yourself! Parenthood with all its many demands on time, energy and finance may seem to be a sufficient reason for not attempting new things. Learn some new skill or develop another one. Grow with your kids.   
10. Invest in experiences rather than things. Instead of buying goods, think about places to go and things to do. As you expand your child's horizons, you will be expanding your own.   
11. Swap ideas with other parents. Find out what they are doing in developing their kids. You will have some ideas to pass along to them. Think about a parent evening for exchanging insights, projects and progress. 
12. Pray for your kids. God is on your side. They are His gift to you. He has good plans for them and for you. You are not alone in your parenting. His Presence is there for the asking. Treat Him as the friend He wants to be to you.  

Brief Speeches Worth Delivering More Than Once...  

• Did you do that? It looks great. 
• I didn't realise you could draw so well. 
• Give it a go! 
• It's ok if you don't get it the first time. 
• Hey, that was a good try.  
• Can you show me how to do this? 
• There's no need to rush. 
• Just do your best. 
• How do you feel about it? 

A view from the Bible: 

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and people (as found in Luke 2:52).  

A Reflection: 

The simple truth is that we have the enormous privilege of drawing out the very best in our children: through the setting of an authentic example, the giving of constant encouragement and the offering of great patience.