Have you ever thought about what Word or what confirmation might
be lying dormant in your kid(s)?
Today after church, we were
standing around in the sanctuary talking, and my daughter asked if we could go
on a Mommy-Daughter date to Chili's. "Hmm...", I thought.
I knew we had to eat, but I wasn't really feeling like going out to eat.
I wanted to either find something at home to eat or pick something
up on the way home and eat in the comfort of our home. I really, really
wanted to get home quickly, eat, and engage in that "after church Sunday
nap". Well.... Although we had been running allll weekend, although
I felt like I hadn't seen anything of a restful and relaxing weekend, I told my
daughter, "Yes, Brooklynn, I will take you out to eat.".
We get to the restaurant
and place our orders, and in true "21st century fashion" we pull out
our phones and become engrossed in our devices' applications. Our
attention had been stolen.....away from each other. I started to read a
wonderful article on Mr. Sam Nelson, Brook's principal who will be retiring in
June of this year. As I read about the last 38 years of this man's life
in the educational system and how he had come from humble beginnings to having
such a huge impact educationally and personally in thousands of students lives,
I found myself to have also become impacted by his story. Then my
thoughts turned to my daughter who was seated across from me all wrapped up in
her device. I said, "Brook, let's put our phones down."
I asked her what did "education" mean to her. She responded
that "education was great". I asked her why, and she said
because she likes learning. I then asked her what part of education she
likes best....she said "math". I asked her why is Math so
important and explained to her the reasons why she needs math.
So we went on talking about
education, and I stressed to her how EDUCATION DOESN'T STOP. I told her
to never stop learning and that even after she has graduated from various
levels in her educational career and even after she is working in a career of
her choosing and even after she is old and gray that education will still need
to be a part of her life because she should NEVER STOP LEARNING.
The conversation turned to
her career choices. When asked what she wanted to be or do when she grows
up, she said she wants to be a police person (she's been saying this occupation
for a while now). Then said she wants to be the sheriff because they are
in charge. I explained to her how you can't just go in the door being the
sheriff, how u have to work your way up and even be elected. She said, "a
vote like for the president?". I confirmed.
I asked her about a backup
profession in case she changes her mind about being the sheriff. She said
a nurse, but the one in charge. So I said, "oh so you just want to
be in charge no matter what you're doing. You want to be in
leadership." She said yes. So I questioned her on what makes
her a good leader...what type of character does she have that makes her a good
leader.
Good leader as defined by Brook:
I'm nice (as she smiled really big).
I'm smart.
I'm gorgeous (flips her hair).
I'm fashionable (touches her clothing). Lol!
I laughed and stopped her and told her that being fashionable has nothing
to do with her being a good leader....unless she's in the fashion industry.
Then she tells me how she
still wants to be an actress, make money, and be famous.
"What makes you a good
actress?", I ask. Brook says because she's always acting at home
(THIS IS TRUE!). "What do you want to do with your money when you
make it?", I asked her. Brook says, "give it to orphans".
Wow! Ok, so this is the whole purpose of this conversation, this is
why we came to eat, this is why I was led to read the article about Mr. Nelson.
It all led up to this acknowledgement of hers that left my heart so
touched. I teared up as I realized the whole purpose of this conversation
and my prying her for more and pushing her to be a critical thinker in her
responses. In that moment, I blessed God and thanked Him for allowing me
to take my kid out to eat. I explained to her the importance of ministry
and that giving to others, those in need, the poor was at the top of God's
list. I told her how I had just recently had a conversation with a friend
about this very thing that God requires of us as He blesses us. Had we
grabbed something to eat and came home, we would've been into the TVs, phones,
other electronic devices, etc... But God allowed us this chance to sit
down one on one with no distractions and to just talk so that I could hear her
heart and also get a word from God in the process. See, I'm always on my
child about making sure to share with others and be kind and things of that
nature. I really try to drill it in her because I don't want her to grow
up selfish and only thinking of herself. Honestly, I wasn't sure if she
was hearing me on that and thought there may have been a little bit of
selfishness in her. So, I was so thankful to hear her say that she would
give her money to orphans.
I am reminded to have these
types of conversations with her as often as possible. I am reminded to listen
to her heart when she speaks and correct the wrong type of thinking. I am
reminded that technology should never take the place of actual face to face
interaction. I am reminded to take my kid out to eat...
#Word #BeFabulouslyBlessed
-Tash
