Kids desperately long to be seen and known by their parents. How can we know our children better?
Take time to discover and celebrate their interests.
Appreciate their unique qualities no matter how different they are from your own.
Listen to their perspective on life
When you discover and value your kids’ God-given uniqueness, they feel known and accepted.
Happy
Telling my children,
“Toys won’t make you happier,”
challenges their thoughts.
One way God develops us is through the wisdom of others. He will place nuggets of teaching through those who are older than us and who we look up to.
Throughout junior high, I remember telling others that I wanted to be like my Dad. I appreciated the way he worked hard to provide and care for the family, was involved in church, and that he loved Mom. I also had my fair share of rebellion as I grew up but no matter what he didn’t judge me, reject me, or make fun of me.
We have made our father/son relationship more of a priority over the last year by committing to a monthly breakfast meeting. The food is great, but that’s not why I show up. I’m there to share what’s going on in my life, ask what’s happening in his, and to gain wisdom and encouragement. It is my favorite meeting of the month.
It’s also the meeting that makes the most sense. As I strive to be a husband, Dad to four, and a follower of Christ, it is critical to have someone to share with me their navigation of those seas. For me, it’s my Dad. One of the many passages in the Bible that stresses the importance of mentoring and having people being available to God to shape others in His image is this:
1 Peter 5:1-6
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
Who are those mentors in your life who have helped get you to where you are today? I shared about my Dad, but there are many other critical people who have taken time to invest in me as well.
For you, it might be a teacher, pastor, family member, coach, or a friend who has invested their wisdom, knowledge and experience into your life. Remember these people and do not forget the time they took to invest in you.
Question: Who has helped you get to where you are today? Click here to comment.
It is hard to believe that two years have passed since Liz and I were blessed with four children through adoption. What God has in store is AMAZING! Sharing our adoption journey is the top post of the year. Thank you!
Two years ago today, Liz and I were standing court side in Radom, Poland. Not basketball court side, but law and order court side. We were hoping to adopt four siblings from Poland and gain the stamp of approval.
The female judge peered over her throne and spoke to us. Through the words of a translator, we learned that we had officially become, “Mama and Dada.” This is a story we love to tell:
This may or may not qualify as Parenting Advice of the Year, but it’s gotten me by for a couple years 
Here is the second most popular post of 2011.
Act like you know!
At least that’s how the saying goes. But it’s not surefire advice.
A lot of my parenting comes from “act like you know…” but there have been times when the kids see right through it.
When Liz and I were in Poland adopting our kids the only Polish we knew how to speak were the “helpful parenting terms” that the translator had scribbled phonetically onto one sheet of notebook paper. When we wanted to speak something to the kids that they would understand we needed to have that notebook in hand.
One afternoon, we were trying to communicate with the kidsters but it was clear that they couldn’t understand us and we had no clue what they were saying. CC stomped away from the conversation, grabbed the notebook from the other side of the room, and brought it back to us. It was classic.
We have come a long way together as a family.
This week was the 2-year anniversary of Liz and I traveling to Poland and beginning the process of bringing the kidsters home.
Here are Ten things that we have learned and “actually know” about parenting:
10. We know when someone really has to go to the bathroom or not.
9. Date night for Mom and Dad is crucial.
8. Start yelling the phrase, “It’s time to eat” about ten minutes before it’s time to eat.
