So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. (1 Samuel 17:38-39 NKJV)
David was confident that he was loved and valued by God just for who he was: a little shepherd boy. He knew that what God had taught him in the fields, God could use to vanquish his enemies on the battlefield. I still feel awe for this young man who turned down the king’s armor and went off to face a giant. Basically David was saying, “I don’t need to be something that I am not.”
That story inspires me to see the places in my life where I am trying to be someone else, too. What messages am I sending by the clothes I wear? The diets I start? The career ambitions I have? We need to be the example for the next generation of being enough as we are.
Maybe we don’t reach as many young people as we could because we are trying to teach them to wear the armor we think they should wear. We mean well, but we may be trying to fit them into our own idea of who they should be. Saul meant well in offering his armor.
Instead we could tell them that God loves them and created each and every one of us for a special purpose. We could be showing them how to find themselves in the Bible instead of just making them conform. If we could teach each child to honor what God did when creating them, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to become an “Emo,” a “Goth,” or a “Skinhead.” They might not be looking for confidence through plastic surgery and designer labels. Instead, they could become: themselves.
Are you reaching and teaching our children to be themselves—a unique person created by God? Reach out and help them to explore who they really are, not just who we want them to be.
Scripture Of The Day: But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 19:14 (NKJV)
Love you Colton
.....
Tell your Son...
ReplyDeleteSome families are born; others are made. If you do not have an extended family, make one! Find honorary grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Teach your son that loving connections are one of his strongest assets in life, and model staying connected to those you care about.
~ Will
Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.
ReplyDelete