Deuteronomy 3:28, “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.”
This weekend, we had Dr. John Trent as our featured speaker at SpringHill’s Labor Day Family Camp. One of his passions is teaching parents how they can share a biblical blessing with their kids. It’s a topic he covers in detail in his bestselling book The Blessing.
On Monday morning, he asked me and my wife to come up on stage with Nathan, our 12-year-old son, and help him illustrate. “Dad,” Dr. Trent looked at me and said, “What is one characteristic you see in Nathan that you highly admire and respect?”
I took a deep breath. I knew the answer without thinking, but I also knew it had been a long time since I said it out loud to Nathan—if ever.
And that was the point. Our kids not only deserve our respect and esteem… they need it. They need us to say out loud what we see and admire in them.
When I was in school, there was a lot of talk about self-esteem. But now that I’m a dad, I’m realizing that all the self-talk in the world cannot make up for a mother or father who stays silent before their child. Words that affirm the characteristics in our children that we respect and admire, strengthen the character that is growing within them.
“It’s compassion,” I said. “Nathan has a heart for people.”
Today, when your kids come home from school, answer that same question. What is one characteristic you see in your child that you highly admire and respect? Then put your hand on his back, look him in the eye, and tell him.
Today’s prayer for your child: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for _______ , and for how you have created him uniquely for a purpose. Thank you for the character you are building in him each day. Help him to know today his tremendous worth and value in Your eyes, and help me speak words to him that lift him up today and each day. Amen.
Also in this series from Deuteronomy 3:28…
Day 1: Pray for influence, and inspire them