Looking to the future

Casting vision for your child’s future

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Being a mom is a lot about marketing. We “sell” our kids lots of ideas, both true and false. We may tell them they can be whatever they want, that there’s nothing they can’t achieve, that Santa eats our cookies on Christmas Eve, and that God won’t give us more than we can handle. Moms are master marketers. But how do we genuinely cast vision for our children to reach their true potential?

Looking to the futureThe truth:  God designed them to be better at some things more than others; they might not be able to be a professional football player or an Olympic figure skater; Mom or Dad will eat the Christmas cookies; life will throw us curve balls that will send us begging for help at the feet of Jesus. When it comes to casting vision for our child’s future, we can’t afford to sell the rose colored version; we have to tell the truth and then do more.

Tell the truth about your child’s future

Age level determines how much and the words we use to help our kids see, understand, and face hard things, but they need us to help them face it. Their future is full of hard things.

Instead of picking up a crying toddler and saying, “Oh, you’re fine, you’re fine. That didn’t hurt,” a mom with a view to the future says, “Oh, I know that hurt. I’m sorry you hurt. Let’s ask God to heal it and teach you how to be careful.”

They need to know:

  1. God will never leave them. (Hebrews 13:5-6)
  2. God will always hear them. (Jeremiah 33:2-3)
  3. They do have weaknesses, but God is strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:10)
  4. They will face hard things to grow stronger. (James 1:2-4)
  5. They will be blessed when they obey.  (Psalm 103:19-21)
  6. God makes individuals for unique purposes.  (Psalm 139:13-15)
  7. God has good plans for their future. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

And that’s 100% true. We can cast a vision for our child’s bright future based on those guarantees, while giving them truths to face the realities of life. But that’s just a start.

Then do more

You might think speaking truth about life is enough when it comes to inspiring children with future possibilities.  It’s not. All of our work, our hopes, our good intentions,  our right words will be impotent if our children don’t see US live with confidence in God’s purposes for our NOW and our FUTURE. 

They need to see:

  1. We live like God is always with us.
  2. We regularly talk to God about everything.
  3. We aren’t perfect, but we depend on God.
  4. We get stronger when we face hard things.
  5. We obey God’s Word and get blessed.
  6. We are comfortable with how God made us and make the most of it.
  7. We smile at the future, whether it’s a new school or a life change.

 

A child looks to her mother to cast bright vision about her future, but a mother can not impart what she does not possess.

To pass on a genuinely great view of the future, a mom has to believe it herself. God has great futures planned for our kids! Let’s let them watch us and see it in action.

Which of the 7 things a child needs to see is your child seeing today?

By Julie Sanders at Come Have a Peace

Julie Sanders
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