by Audrey Bauman

Proverbs 13: 4   (NLT)

“Lazy people want much but get little,
     but those who work hard will prosper.”

This is a verse that I think we should post on our kids’ bedroom walls.  Just kidding!

I think this verse fits so well into our current culture.  So much is put in front of our eyes every day in the media.  We wish we could have it all – or at least more than we have.  We tend to dream big.

I don’t have an issue with dreaming.  In fact, I think that’s what God wants us to do – dream about achieving great things for Him.  But along with the dreams goes the hard work of making those dreams come true.  And that’s where we as parents can help our children.

I always come back to the example we set.  Have you ever experienced a moment when you said something, laughed about something, did something – and all of a sudden you realize that you are exactly like your mother/father?  Or have you ever had a moment when your preschooler said or did something exactly the way you do?  We have profound influences on our children – sometimes more than we’d like.  But we can use that ability to help our children learn good things.

Let your children see you chase your dreams. Let them realize how much work you put into achieving what you are doing.  Help them with their projects (I don’t mean do those projects for them) so they see what needs to be done, and realize the planning and work that goes into almost anything worthwhile.  It’s good for them to see that hard work pays off, and it’s good for them to see their parent(s) living out that principle.

Our song for today is Shoulders by King and Country