Heather and Crystal
And there they are – my two daughters, Heather and Crystal, speaking recently at Style Speaks, sponsored by Created Woman in Austin, Texas. What a fun and empowering night we had! There were other inspiring speakers on the program, as well as fashion shows and shopping sprees that were made possible from vendors all across Austin and Houston. For sure, it was a real good girl time that was enjoyed by over 100 women in attendance.
Style Speaks is just one of the events that Heather sponsors as Founder of Created Woman throughout the year. Her vision combines her love of both Fashion and Faith to empower women to become the woman they were created to be, both inside and out. As owner of Your Fitness Designer, Crystal’s vision is helping women design a fitness and food plan and achieve life balance, even with a busy life.
As I sat listening to each of them speak, I couldn’t help but think how their life could have gone in an opposite direction had they listened to Mama.
You see, like most parents, when they were young girls, I felt that I should play a major role in helping them choose a career path. I even thought I knew what their career path should be. Since I was a school teacher, and dearly loved my profession, my guidance pushed very hard in that direction. “Teaching is what you should go into, girls. When you get married, you will have the whole summer off, plus all school holidays to be home with your children.”
“No, no, no!” “I don’t like teaching and working with children,” they both protested!
“I want to do something in fashion,” Heather would scream out.
“I like exercising and learning about staying fit,” Crystal would declare.
“Oh, you are just kids; you are too young to know right now what you want to be. Besides, you should be thinking about something that will earn you a living,” I argued.
And then one day, coming from the pulpit, my pastor, the late David Berkheimer, had these words to say, and I quote:
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Pastor David went on to explain that verse by saying: “In the way he should go” means in the way that he is bent. The way the limb on the tree is bent, is the way in which it will grow. You can’t un-bend the limb on the tree and make it grow the opposite way that it was formed.
“Parents,” he went on to say, “Pay close attention to the things that your child is interested in. Encourage them in that area because that is the way in which God has “bent them” and those are the gifts God has placed within him/her to bring honor to Him.”
And with that, I let them fly out of Mama’s nest to pursue their own interests, and we, as their parents, invested in their college education to pursue their dreams in their chosen career field.
What about you? Do you recognize certain interests and gifts in your child? Are you actively encouraging and equipping them in that area? Oh sure, I understand that a child’s interests often changes as he grows, but I have to believe that there is a distinct passion deep inside of him that God created within the child to bring honor to God’s name. The passion that the child exhibits, even as a youngster, is something that he also really enjoys doing.
Think about it: “How many times have you heard an adult say: “All my life I had a desire inside of me to be a nurse, but life and circumstances got in my way, and I never pursued it.” Or have you heard someone say: “It is too risky; I am afraid I might fail if I follow my dreams and passion.” Perhaps that person was you!
So today, I encourage you:
Look and listen for your child’s passion, and encourage him in that area.
Also, pull out that passion and dream inside of you that may have lain dormant for years.
It is never too late to pursue your God-given passion
and become all God created you to be.
I’ve been teaching 14 years. I have a specialist degree. I have endorsements in gifted, ELL and reading. I taught kindergarten for 6 years and second grade for 2. I teach in a rural community much like the one where I grew up in Donalsonville, Georgia.
Back to Zach, along with a word from his mom, Crystal: “I am so proud of Zach and his discovery that he can now read. In fact, I am proud of both my children. Hannah has been an excellent example for her brother for reading. She loves it. When on Friday night, your children want to sit by the fire pit, and read, you know you are creating memories and growing their mind.”
Zach’s Bio
While on a visit to my elderly and disabled mother in Donalsonville, Georgia, I peeked out the window just as two vans were pulling up the driveway. Looking closely, I saw Oak View Church of God, the church my mother attended when she was able to attend, written on the side of both vans. “What is going on?” I wondered.
