Groovy Chicks and Godly Men

I am constantly amazed by the variation with which God can fill one household. In my home lives The Flower Child. This child is a happy child. She loves nature and animals and the 60s. She rarely worries about much of anything and has an unending supply of love for those around her. She is blissfully unaware of the ugliness of the world. She can be very sensitive and prone to short lived tears. In short, she is one groovy chick. The world (and the people in it) have often told me I need to do something about The Flower Child. Apparently I need to help her be wise to "the real world" or her sensitivity will cause her to become hurt. According to the world, she is too sensitive and too blissfully unaware. I believe though, that God sent her this way. I believe that this sensitivity gives her compassion for others. I believe that it will be of use to her in whatever calling God has chosen for her. I think the world will harden her on its own and I need to take her as she is. I believe she is OK.

Also in our home lives The Determined One who is shy and reserved. She is witty and wise. She means what she says and says what she means. The world says we need to make her more outgoing. I believe her tendency to listen before speaking is her God given gift that will be used in the plan God has for her.  The Man Child is extremely goal oriented, which occasionally causes him to beat himself up if he falls short of his goals. The world says I need to "lighten him up". The world feels he will fall apart if he pushes himself too hard. I believe he will become a leader; a Godly man who will do great things on the path God chooses. I'm sure you have examples of your own about the division between our God given gifts and what the world says we should do with them.

I think it's time to start seeing our children, and ourselves, the way God sees us. He sees those traits he has placed in each of us as tools to glorify Him, not as problems that need to be fixed. I am not saying we should not discipline our children or fail to give them boundaries. I am saying today let's take an honest look at all the groovy chicks and Godly men that we have been given and see the potential in them. The world is in chaos, but our children are images of God. Let's try today to take them just as they are.