A lot has happened since this picture a few years ago, when we drove out West to California. Josh, Hannah, and Isaiah are 3 years older. We stopped at the four corners and got our picture taken. The trip was a highlight of our lives, as we got to see America up close.As a father, I am constantly thinking about ways to pour deposits into my kids that will prepare them for the future. One of our primary desires, Anne and I, is to help develop their character. We are very grateful that God has given them amazing talents in a variety of areas, yet we can't spend all of the formative years developing talent only.
I watch from a distance as parents pour a surplus amount of time, energy, and resources running their kids all over creation to develop their talents. I wonder what might happen if we spent the same energy developing character? It breaks my heart to see kids succeed at a variety of extra-curricular activities and fail so miserably with character.
The most balanced view is a child who has developed character to compliment their talent. Maybe we need to swing the pendulum back on the character side a little more. The most successful people in life are people of character! Any thoughts out there in blogging world?
2 comments:
Amen...and you and Anne have done a wonderful job pouring character into those precious Brown kids!
Good point Jim. We have friends who had three kids in summer softball and attended 135 games in one summer. When Hannah wanted to be in summer soccer I sat down with her and we figured the hours, miles and money (we did this on paper), then we took it times three because her brothers would want to play also. Then, with the figures in front of her I asked her if she still wanted to do it. She gave me an adamant no! I have no problem with sports, Kim and I talked it over and decided that anything they learn at sports, we could teach them at home. You asked for opinions...
1. The number one reason Christians don't get connected to Christ: Too busy - We didn't want to teach our kids to have a hurried lifestyle. Our kids are grown now... and all have time for us.
2. Kids are an extension of the parents ego. That's why parents push them into events - to stroke their own ego (ouch).
3. They just get involved in stuff because others are doing it. We had a goal of where we thought our kids should be and consciously took the road we thought best to get them there. If a person doesn't know where they are going - any road will do.
Love ya Jim, Mitch
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