I have really enjoyed watching the summer Olympics this year! It has been so refreshing to have our whole family watching the events and rooting for team USA!
Our favorite event was the swimming, especially Michael Phelps! We stayed up late every time we knew that he would be performing. Why? Because we had to know if he would beat the world record and it was addictive!
When his relay won the gold we were rejoicing right along with him, hooting and hollering! How incredible that we were able to watch as the fastest swimmer in all of our human history performed. It really was a privilege. It also got me thinking.
Did you see his mom? She was so cute to watch. I enjoyed seeing her reaction each time her son won another gold medal. She was precious! Once, when Michael won by a nail length, she had a stunned look and when she realized that he had won his seventh medal, she fell to the floor! I loved it!
That's when I began to wonder about my own children. You see, God created Michael Phelps to be the fastest swimmer to ever live. How did he get into swimming? When did his mom realize that he had a talent? You don't win medals like that unless you are talented and committed. How do we know what our children were created to do?
This is something that plagues me at times. I have six children and I cannot let them try everything that's out there. I spend a great deal of time praying about each opportunity and asking God to show me if they are gifted or talented in a particular area that He wants to cultivate.
Can you imagine if Michael Phelps had never entered in a swim meet? The Olympics would have looked quite different this year!
I am not expecting my children to be in the Olympics or set any world records. No, I am looking for them to serve God in the way He wants them to serve.
Eph 2:10 "God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."(GNB)
The works that we are to do for God, He has already prepared for us! He is the master builder. May He guide each of us as we raise up the next generation.
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16 comments:
Oh my friend, I loved this post!
I only have one child and she is a miracle. When she was four we went for fertility teating to see why we had not been able to conceive again. We found out that we were actually a sterile couple. Our doctor flat told us that he was surprised that we had been able to conceive at all.
Our daughter is extemly talented musically....we are not. She is only nine and has sung in area churches, BBQ's, and was even asked to sing in someone's wedding! She was their only singer...and we didn't know them before hand!
She plays the fiddle and wants to begin piano lessons this fall.
I am not just tyring to brag on my child. I am telling you I am scared and I pray daily that God will help me to steer her in His direction for her.
I pray hard because I don't want her taken advantage of by those who would exploit her. I pray that she will alweays sing for Him and let Him sing through her as she does now. I pray because we know nothing about this field she loves with her whole being.
I pray because she is a gift and I only have one shot to guide her, teach her and show her that we love God so much that she will want to love and serve Him too.
I so hear your heart on this post. We are raising Godly men and women. The responsibility is humongous!
What I have come to though is this: Thanks be to God that He is able to guide our children in the path He chose for them. He knows the hairs on her head and will direct her path no matter if I start to direct her in a wrong direction. He is in control!
Thank You, thank You, God!
Lets pray for our children together.
Pamela R.
I too LOVED watching Michael Phelps. I devoured every interview on TV too - both he & his mom.
I admire her determination as a single mom, and all she did for him.
I pray we find the right gifts to nurture in own children as well.
It IS hard to know where to plug your kids in, determining what God has prepared them for instead of what we'd like to see them do! I know that I've been guilty of this and am still working on releasing my girls to His molding.
Have a wonderful day!
Melinda
Keep praying and have faith that God is listening and will steer you in your leading! You are an amazing mom who God blessed with six children, He will take care of them and their futures!
I think we can all relate. I want them to find their perfect blend of passion, natural giftedness etc etc, yet,we keep waiting. Since I sing, people think my kids sing...nope. Since I "do this", they think my kids do this...nope. I saw my rising high schooler step up in his circle of friends with leadership skills that I have prayed fervently for, but never witnessed personally. When that happened, it was the HS telling me...it may not be a "thing," but I am preparing Him for something great in my Kingdom. Now that is every mom's gold medal, isn't it? It's just the waiting on Him to refine (both my children and me) that's the hard part.
We've really enjoyed watching the olympics as well. It is a thing of beauty to see such well-trained athletes perform. I'm consistantly amazed by their skill.
I'm with you - I pray about which endeavors my kids should take on. As long as they walk in the Lord's will, fulfilling those works He has already prepared for them, I will rejoice AS IF they've won a gold medal.
Blessings!
Mom,
I LOVE the post! Michail Phelps is awsome!
~Brittany~
We pray for that as well with our kids. What are we growing them to do? I know the Lord has it all figured out and that gives me great peace. The olympics have been awesome to watch. It's so inspiring to see people's dreams come true and history made right before your eyes. I teared up on more than one occasion.
Have an excellent day!
Kim
I love Michael Phelps! My family has never watched a lot of the Olympics. That changed this year. We love swimming especially! It's so much fun watching him win gold after gold and break record after record...
Now, I don't have kids obviously. However, I see your dilema. I haven't known you very long, but there are a couple of things that are evident about you! That is you love your children very much and you are a Godly woman who puts God first. With a combination like that, there is no way your kids could be anything but wonderful men and women of God! I'm praying that God will give you wisdom as you encourage your kids to be all He created them to be! (Eph 2:10)
Hi Sonya,
What a nice surprise your visit was! I loved your blog too. I am just this year done with homeschooling, and trying to come to terms with that. Micah has graduated. We did the whole thing at home-all 13 years. So I am sorta trying to find out who I am now. He's our only child. He has a great first job, and a great attitude about it-so I should be happy-I AM-BUT! I will miss that first day of back to school...We are a very close family, and I think homeschooling was one of the best things I ever did in my life.I'll come back for a visit.
Love, Debra
My kids and I rarely find something on tv or movies that we all thoroughly enjoy watching together. Watching Michael Phelps and the olympics this year was something we did all enjoy. I enjoyed watching my kids watch history being made.
May we live in excitement and anticipation to see how our children will bring glory to God
My husband and I watched the races and wondered the same thing about how God creates us. Isn't it just amazing and wonderful to be a part of His story?
I love your perspective on this.
:-)
Aloha Sonya..
Thank you for dropping by my blog and sharing your heart. My family and I have been watching the olympics as well, the swimming of course lol and gynnastics, and volleyball. I also pray that the Lord continue to show my children direction, and in all that they do, may Christ be the center of it all. I enjoyed my visit and will be back to read more.
God Bless Lorie
First, I want to thank you for stopping by and leaving me such encouraging words. Believe me, I needed to hear them.
As for children, my 3 are grown-27, 25 and 23 now. They are all non-believers, and my prayer for them daily is that they come to know Christ as their Savior and friend.
I know that God has plans for them and I want to see them achieve what God has in store for them.
So, please pray with me for my children. They have been through so much and need to know Jesus.
Beth
Ok, I was about to leave and then I started reading this post and had to stay just a little longer.
This "really" hits home with me because I have been on a quest for 3-5 years (I'm not exactly sure) to discover exactly how God has designed me and for what. He has taught me soooo much! Not only about me but about watching for His design in my grandaughters so that I can try to cultivate it.
I just realized that I could write waayyy too much on this so I'll cut it short. Pay attention to the things they LOVE doing and get lost in. (Not zone out like TV can do.) These are real clues to the way God designed them.
OK - Sorry for being long-winded. Loved the visit!
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