"Your Child's Potential"

We all get discouraged with our children at times. If we focus on their mistakes and their attitudes we may forget the potential they have. We have to be very careful not to label our children in a negative way. What is the view your child has of him or herself? What is the vision you are presenting as a parent for your child? Jesus presented vision to His disciples even by changing some of their names - Simon, became Peter meaning "Rock". Many saw the wavering, shifting, unstable nature of Simon, but Jesus looked beyond that and encouraged Peter to reach his potential anyway. Every child has this same great potential! Identify your child's positive tendencies and encourage them! Always remember, "with God all things are possible." Many children have overcome negative statements made about them. I've heard that it was said that Beethoven's music teacher said about him, "As a composer he is hopeless." And Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper editor because he was thought to have "no good ideas." I had similar statements made about me when I was in grade school. But my parents believed in me and demonstrated their faith in many ways that allowed me to overcome the negative statements.

There are some steps that will assist you in the process of developing your child's potential:

1. Dedicate your child/children to God. By doing that, you provide the avenue through which God can work in their lives. Pray for them all the time. Seek to understand God's plan for them.

2. Implant vision into their lives. Use key words to bless them. Instead of "you're stupid", one may say, "you're very considerate". "You're a natural leader", you're very intelligent," "you have a special gift," etc.

3. Guide them in their choice of friends. I Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good character." Look at the impact your own friends have on their lives.

4. Take time for them. Self-esteem and a sense of importance come when a child knows their life is a priority for their parents.

5. Be consistent and patient in the way you relate to your children. Children need stability to grow and patience is one of the great keys to success in life.