Raising Greatness: A Parent’s Primer On Helping Kids Grow Their Gifts

Children are gifts to us. As the Lord’s heritage, the investments we make in them cause the kingdom of God to flourish (Psalm 127:3). The Father’s original charge to Adam and Eve was to multiply their fruitfulness, replenish the earth, subdue everything in it, and walk in their proper authority.

While those commands are often applied to our abilities and assignments, God also intended to establish and extend His Kingdom through the generations of children. He wants to impact our entire lineage and future generations, beginning with our own household, and expanding into all families of the Earth.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3, NIV

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Children come to us like malleable clay. God created them with innate abilities and characteristics. He knew what they would need to fulfill their God-given purpose. Whether we give birth or adopt, responsibilities accompany the children we embrace. Parents occupy the primary role in drawing those gifts out, nurturing what the Father created as part of their nature. We must seek God’s guidance for raising children who reflect His original design.

Training them, as Scripture reveals, is more than engaging in the rhythms of our daily chores and life tasks. We are entrusted to partner with God, asking Him for vision to see what the gifts and personalities are that He created in them. Beyond that, we must teach them to steward their gifts and talents to serve God. When we nurture our kids, esteeming them as gifts themselves, we provide them with what’s needed to flourish and grow in and beyond our parental care.

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he grows older he will not abandon it. – Proverbs 22:6, NASB2020

Gifts and the Giver

Like any other gift from God, we have to exercise wisdom. No child comes with a manual, but God’s Word steers our course in life, providing the insight we need for a myriad of matters. As we seek and spend time with the Holy Spirit, He opens our hearts and eyes to what is only seen through the Father’s lens.

While we may have lofty plans for our children and families, we must consult our Creator for what was in His omniscient mind when He created us and the children He’s gifted.

How can we treasure the gift if we lack a connection with the Giver? The most important gift we can offer our children is knowing God. We must tell them about Him from the day they are born, as we go about our day and as we pray and seek Him together as a family. We can also locate faith communities in our local area and find resources online that will foster a relationship with Christ in ways that are developmentally appropriate and engaging.

When we raise our children to know and love the “Giver of every good and perfect gift,” He becomes a part of daily and family life (James 1:17). As they watch and participate with us in engaging with God and celebrating Him in our daily activities such as meal times, recreation, and chores, we fortify the foundation for growing not only their gifts but also their growth in grace over a lifetime.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. – Deuteronomy 6:5-7, NIV

Parenting for Purpose

Every human comes to earth, bundled with a purpose. God designed us with eternity in mind, calling each life a masterpiece before its debut (Ephesians 2:10). Part of our life journey includes seeking the Lord to learn what God requires of us and giving Him our heartfelt obedience.

We help our children to build a foundation that not only serves God and the world with their talents but also with the gift of being who they are. When we celebrate them as created in God’s Image, we teach them to do the same.

Pursue

God revealed the nature of purpose to many of our Bible predecessors in childhood and youth. Whether they encountered a call through an angel, a direct conversation, or cataclysmic means, the Lord revealed gifts that He built in each to birth a world-changing destiny.

Through prayer and life’s discovery process, we can expose our kids to experiences and offer opportunities to explore interests, while strengthening their skills, and fostering life-giving friendships. Pursuing and practicing what they enjoy helps children to develop and refine their natural and spiritual gifts over time while sparking joy and building confidence.

Plant

It is never too early to nurture what God has planted in our children. God completes the work He begins and ultimately receives the glory (Philippians 1:6). We begin by seeding God’s invitation into present greatness with a joyful yes, watering with the Word, and cultivating surrendered hearts (Romans 12:1-2).

King Josiah ruled from the time he was eight years old, established righteousness, and renewed the nation’s covenant with God during his reign (2 Kings 22:2). Jeremiah was a young prophet called to convey strong correction and eventual restoration to the leaders of Judah (Jeremiah 1:6-7).

While a teen, David was anointed king and slaughtered the Philistine giant who railed against God and threatened His people (1 Samuel 16:12-13; 17:50). Mary, as a young girl, responded to Gabriel’s message that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to the Messiah (Luke 1:26-27, 31). Jesus Himself, while only twelve years old, astonished rabbis in the synagogue, with his questions, answers, and understanding of Scripture (Luke 2:41-47).

Preserve

When we approach our parenting with a weighty sense of God’s call on our children, it humbles us to see how much God trusts us. It can also be sobering to realize how we require His guidance. He’s placed children in our family and in our care who are already esteemed in God’s eyes.

Their childlike nature, characterized by wonder and aptness to trust, is what Jesus describes as prerequisites for greatness in the kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3-4, 19:14). We have a stake in learning from their curiosity, innocence, and resilience as well as preserving them.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:3-4, NIV

Protect

Raising greatness also means that we may need to monitor and vet influences. While we don’t know the motives of those engaging with our children in person or online, we can protect them, discerning by the Spirit of Wisdom and setting guidelines and healthy boundaries (Isaiah 11:2).

We don’t have to wrestle with anxiety, but we must be keen to follow His lead, whether we are pre-screening entertainment or interactions. Furthermore, teaching our children to learn and listen to the voice of the Shepherd for themselves will help to protect them from wolves that would otherwise devour them (John 10:27-30).

Next Steps

The enemy will try to leverage every assault against them, whether from outside forces or within. Although childhood represents a measure of vulnerability, we don’t have to live in fear, hiding from the world. God has armed us with wisdom, practical insight, and armies of angels to encircle our children (James 1:5; Psalm 34:7).

Despite the darkness, our parental influence helps them to learn and live out their true identity. With our backing and God’s leading, they will develop confidence and courage to stand victoriously amid challenges.

As a parent, you need genuine and relevant support. While the Lord remains your present Help, professional counselors also offer a practical means to process thoughts and feelings while you develop and revise parenting practices (Psalm 46:1). Reach out through this site to schedule an appointment. Consider this as an investment in your family’s future because you are raising greatness.