If you could put your kids with anyone, who would you put them with?
I've asked that question of hundreds of parents, and quite honestly, most of them haven't given the idea much thought. I suppose they're so busy getting their kids with the people they feel "required" to put them with, that they don't think much about strategically placing them under the influence of the mentors of their choosing.
I find that curious.
I know you feel like you're "required" to let the gymnastics pro shape your child. You feel it's "necessary" to put your children with teachers you didn't choose, neighbors you didn't ask for, famous (or infamous) singers and actors you can't seem to filter out of their lives, coaches with foul mouths, television personalities who occasionally say things you can't believe get past the censors and older kids you're not sure you trust. I know how you feel. I raised three children and some people influenced them whether I liked it or not.
You can't choose 'em all, but you can choose some. So, if you could choose to put your children with anyone, who would that be?
I knew people I'd wanted my kids to emulate. I knew the ones I wanted my children to watch and listen to. I wanted my kids to learn from great Christian leaders. I wanted them have good role models and great examples to follow. I got them with Christian leaders who encouraged their faith, taught them about God and showed them the way to real life.
Back in the day, one of those "influencers" was Rob Wegner. I put my children in Rob's presence every time I had the opportunity. Another was my brother. When my children were able to spend time with their "Uncle Matt," I was thrilled. John Maxwell poured leadership into my kids. Sheila's Mom and Dad modeled marriage for them. Isaac Hunter mentored my son, and one of my sons-in-law. The teachers in GCC's children's ministries, the counselors at camp and the leaders at GSM have helped my children along the way.
Passion is communicable. So is apathy.
So it love. So is hate.
So is laughter. So is despair.
Purpose can be transferred - whether it's for good or evil.
We have only so much time with our children. They have so many voices speaking into their lives; voices speaking values we might never choose, but they come through loud and clear anyway. So it seems to me we should to take full advantage of opportunities to put our kids with the people we want them to imitate. I did that with my kids, and I'm glad I did.
Where are you putting your children? Who is influencing them? Who do you strategically place them with? I suggest you start getting intentional about the process, or your window of opportunity will close and the biggest influencers in their lives may not be as helpful as you wish.
1 Samuel 1:21-28 - When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." 23 "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. 24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there.
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