Seeing the Genius in Your Child

Written by Sherry Hayes of Mom Delights

Schools measure children against “norms,” but no one is normal.

We still compare, though, don’t we? We just know all the other children are excelling while ours are falling behind.

Unfortunately, this is especially true for homeschooling moms.

I think this is because we don’t have that official “stamp” on what we are doing. There is a certain amount of security in charts and tests that we don’t enjoy as homeschoolers. Sometimes this leads us to hyper-sensitivity and defensiveness or even undue pressure on our children to perform.


(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.)

One of my daughters spent some time working as a preschool teacher. Her classroom was filled with children whom she knew to be bright and beautiful, but whose parents somehow weren’t convinced. Oftentimes, they spoke of their children with disgust and disappointment, and these tots were not past the age of four years old! Many told stories of how So-and-So had decided their tiny ones were slow or damaged in some way. It was her great pleasure to counter such reports; to tell them story after story of the marvelous wonder their little ones truly were.

In turn, these children drank in her love and appreciation and began to blossom in astounding ways.

The truth is that fear leads to criticism and frustration and anger, and none of these reap positive results. Children who live under such tyranny are stunted in their potential and often lose heart altogether.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can be set free—free to love our children and see the genius God has placed in each and every one.

Genius: great natural ability : remarkable talent or intelligence                 ~Merriam Webster online dictionary

It begins with us. We have to be healed. Most of us have been living under the oppression of comparison for years and years.

Yes, we are full of foibles and failures, but we were created in God’s image, and even our flaws are forgotten when we realize His graciousness. In His righteous humility, He reaches down and takes our weaknesses and our flaws and replaces them with His own perfection.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." ~Jeremiah 31:3b NIV

In the perfection of completeness, He can recreate us; completed by the perfection of His Son.

As we reach out and begin to understand His amazing love, we can then give it to our children.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." ~Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV

"You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." ~Psalm 23:5b NIV

Once we begin to overflow with God’s love, we can give our whole-hearted approval to our children and quench their thirst with the invigorating water of life:

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." ~Matthew 10:42 NIV

This culture is the domain of Satan, and it is his intention to steal, kill, and destroy. I think sometimes he inspires those hideous charts. They certainly cause a lot of destruction and murdering of the human spirit.

But where the Spirit is, there is liberty. Jesus came to give us abundant life! Love covers, and it heals, and it believes the best (1 Corinthians 13).

And in believing, it creates. It creates an atmosphere of freedom where children can grow and flourish. It opens doors for them to step through to higher things.

This is homeschooling at its best; redeeming our children from the destructive plans of the enemy by seeing them through God’s eyes.

"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." ~John 3:17

________________________________________________

Sherry Hayes is the Christian homeschooling mom of 15 children. Her mission is to build enthusiasm into other mothers in their quest to love God and serve Him by taking care of their families. You can find out more about her real and enthusiastic life at MomDelights.com or connect with her on Facebook , Pinterest, or Instagram.





For more Biblical encouragement for Homeschool Moms, be sure to check out any and all of these great resources.