Thursday, October 8, 2015

October 8, 2015

“Then the LORD said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--  to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,  to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:  the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony with the atonement cover on it, and all the other furnishings of the tent-- the table and its articles, the pure gold lampstand and all its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, the basin with its stand--  and also the woven garments, both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests, and the anointing oil and fragrant incense for the Holy Place. They are to make them just as I commanded you." Exodus 31:1-6

“Thar’s gold in them there kids!”

Which kids?

Bezalel, son of Uri, and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach – and yours, to name a few!

God puts gold in our kids and calls parents to help them discover it, develop it and invest in a life of serving God. God desires parents to help Him stake a claim in the life of your kid so together you can mine and refine the gold He deposited in them.

In yesterday’s post I shared several ways to assist your kid in the discovery of their gifts, talents, interests, aptitudes, and passion.

Today I would like to share several ideas to help develop those skills and interests once they are identified.

Once gold is mined it must be refined. There are two errors to avoid as you seek to assist the development of your kid’s abilities:

1) Avoid Training Without Gifting

One of the dangers of parenting is pushing your dream upon your kid. If you attempt to push him into a career that he isn’t gifted or talented to do it can be a well-intentioned but frustrating effort for you AND your kid. Not one of my three kids took a path I would have chosen for them but all three are pursuing careers that they enjoy and are enjoying success. Chances are, yours won’t either.

Here is a humorous illustration of what I mean:


That was awkward wasn’t it? Don’t try to train your kid into something he is not designed or wired to do.

2) Avoid Gifting Without Training

This is the equivalent of a miner discovering the mother lode of gold and realizing he never learned how to dig. It is a great blessing for a kid to discover his passion and talents but passion and talent alone are not enough. As a parent your duty is to urge, motivate or even push your kid to get education, professional training and practical experience to sharpen his skills.

Here is a suggested pattern employing the ball diamond:

Home Plate – Ask God, “What am I good at?”
First Base – Ask God, “What am I not good at?”
Second Base – Ask God, “Who should I trust to help me?’
Third Base – Ask God and Mentor, “How do I get better?”

God has deposited some gold in your kid! With your guidance and wisdom he should be “good as gold” when he gets to third base!