Looking For The Gift
I remember when I was upset that my 4 year old did something destructive (but of course I can’t remember what it was), about 17 years ago.
I talked to my sister-in-law, and she gave me some advice that changed the way I look at the things my kids do. She read me Proverbs 22:6 from the Amplified Bible,
“Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
And then she told me the meaning she had gotten from it. She said that when her kids, no matter how young, do things that are not really bad, but things they probably shoulldn’t do, she looks at it and asks the Lord, “Is this part of their gifting, and how can I turn it towards you?”
I am talking about things like taking a new toy apart to see what is inside, or trying to hide the wall they just painted on….not things that could potentially harm them or someone else.
I have seen things in my very young children that have enabled me to help them bring out their gifts, all because I have looked for them.
My oldest daughter used to love to empty my can cupboard. It drove me crazy…I wanted them the way I wanted them. But I let her do it,and she always arranged them by size. I always went back when she was through and arranged them by category, but then she would do it again the next day.
She is still, at 18, a very organized person. I know God has plans to use that gift for his glory.
My 20 year old son used to pretend everything was a guitar, ever since he was about 1 yr. old
He taught himself how to play at 14, and now is in the process of starting a worship team to reach the youth in our area.
As parents, it is our job to see the gifts, pray for wisdom on how to help those gifts develop, and help our kids have opportunities to use their gifts.
If we do these things, the whole body of Christ will benefit, and more people will be reached with the Gospel and come to know the Lord.
Seek out those gifts.
Leave a Reply