Remember when you were a child people started asking you what you wanted
to be when you grew up? This of course was to refer to what job or
career path you would like to take. A child may or may not have any
thoughts or ideas about these things, but God was thinking about it long
before they were ever born.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future." Jeremiah 29:11
Since God has already thought about the plans
He has for our kids, then we should also be thinking and praying about it. The bible even tells us to
train them for it.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
The Hebrew word used for "way" in this scripture, is
derek. Vines
Bible Dictionary defines it like this. Path, road, highway, manner,
conduct, condition, destiny, undertaking. This word connotes how and
what one does, a manner, custom, behavior, mode of life.
Derek is
applied to an activity that controls one, one's life-style. It can
signify the overall course and fixed path of one's life, or his
"destiny".
So how do we begin training them for what God will call them to when we
don't know what that call is? In addition to teaching them to love the
Lord with all their heart, we need to study them to learn how God is
equipping them. We should seek to discover the things they love the
most, the things they are naturally good at, and the things they are
naturally drawn to. These will be used in the skills and talents that
God is developing in them to equip them for His plans.
Ask your kids questions about the things they love. Not vague "What do
you like? and What's your favorite color?" questions but focused
questions like "What do you like better x or y?" They will enjoy the
focused attention and interest you have in them while you do this, and
you will learn how God is shaping them. Keep a journal on them to
document what you discover. Don't discount anything no matter how
insignificant it might seem to you at the moment. Everything has a
purpose.
For example, my middle grand-daughter has always been drawn to tiny
things. I began noticing this when she was about three years old.
- Once as we were walking to the car, she stopped in her tracks
and squatted down to intently watch an ant that was walking across her
path on the sidewalk.
- On another occasion, she found a very small bead on the floor. She
picked it up and exclaimed with delight, "Look! A little ball! There's a
little hole in it." Then she studied it intently for several minutes.
Knowing how inquisitive she she is, I could just imagine the questions
she was wondering at that moment. "I wonder what that hole is for. I
wonder if there's anything in that hole. I wonder what I can put inside
that hole. I wonder how it got there."
- One day we played the "What do you like better?" game and one of the questions I asked her was "What do you like better, big or little?" Her answer - little. Next question - little or tiny. Her answer - tiny.
Since then I have discovered through her painting, drawing, and
speech that she adds a lot of details. Her draw toward things tiny is
the indicator of her attention to detail.
As you discover more about the way God is equipping your children, you
can then begin to train them by providing the supplies that will
encourage growth in those areas. Not to over do it. It's not necessary
to go out and pay for expensive music lessons if your child shows an
interest in an instrument. The next time you are purchasing a gift for
that child, make it an age appropriate guitar or drum set. If they love
painting, get them some basic artist supplies. My youngest
grand-daughter loves things on wheels and technology, so for her
birthday I got her a remote control truck. My oldest grand-daughter has a
great love for animals so one year I got her a Zoo Vet computer game.
These will be the tools that will help them to hone the skills God is
developing in them.
As they begin to think about what they want to "be" when they grow up,
you will be able to point out some of the skills and talents God has
given them and encourage them to ask Him what He has in mind. When they
reach an age where they are thinking more seriously about their career
path, you will have trained them in the way they should go and can
present them with a journal filled with information that could help them
take the next step.
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
"A girl needs to be so lost in God, that the guy is going to have to seek HIM to find her!" ...Maya Angelou
