Years of being an educator and a parent have provided me with too many examples of parents believing their child deserves special treatment because he or she is "gifted" or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, those who believe their child will never amount to anything. Some children are exceptional; truly we do have geniuses and prodigies, but most of us, including our children, are just regular folks.
What has troubled me, though, is the often devastating results the Lake Wobegon effect, and its more extreme negative counterpoint, has on kids. Children take to heart what the parent believes to be true about them and behave accordingly. What I generally observed, regardless of the situation, were disappointed, frustrated, hurt, confused, and angry children, and parents who simply didn't understand what was wrong with their child. All were left feeling as if they didn't measure up.
Here's the good news - we're all gifted! I Corinthians 12 compares the body of Christ to the human body. Just as the human body is comprised of many intricate and complex parts so that it functions at peak performance, so does the Church; God has created each person with a very specific purpose, enabling the body of Christ to operate as He so designed it. No one member of the Church is more or less important than another; each has a significant and crucial role to play. In other words, regardless of who we are and how we measure on an intelligence scale, we all are key players in God's perfect plan.
Our children are gifted by God. We may not know specifically what those gifts are, but be assured that each child has been designed with a purpose. Our responsibility is to seek the Lord for direction as we raise our children. We need His wisdom to know how to guide them so that their gifts develop according to God's divine purpose for their lives. We can raise truly "gifted children" by leading them to know their Creator and by praying with them from a young age that God will develop in them His character and their unique purpose. He will give us direction in how to discipline, relate to, and provide for them so their talents and strengths grow according to His best for them.
In God's family, there is no Lake Wobegon effect; we all are precious in His sight, all exceptional and integral to His plan. When we are fully functioning in God's design for us, we will be more than "above average"; we will be "...perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)"
Lord, we don't always feel "special"; we don't always measure up to this world's standard of value. But, we are so thankful that to You, we are priceless. You created us lovingly and for a unique purpose.
Please help us to first know and understand and accept our value to You. Help us to see ourselves as You do. Then, please give us the divine wisdom to guide our children to become who You have created them to be. Help us to identify their strengths and parent them is such a way that their gifts will develop according to your plans.
You have entrusted us with Your precious children; help us to care for them according to Your word and Your ways. In your name we pray, Amen.
