parents wanted - whimps need not apply!

Proverbs 22:6 [Amplified Version] instructs us to "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Eph 6:4 [NLT] reminds us: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

parenting sure has its days, doesn't it? we have three incredibly unique kids under the age of 7 and every day brings us a fuller view of how desperate we are for God's wisdom. it is 9 pm at night and the second week of school for our first grader son, who has some special needs. he brings a perspective to our world and family unlike any other child - talk about dancing to the beat of a different drum! - and boy does he dance (just imagine 24/7 DDR Max without the dance pad or gaming system, add in a super hero costume, and you get the picture). just now he was having a "night seizure" where he gets up but is still in a dream state, experiencing some sort of nightmarish situation that he can not communicate. it takes my wife and I five minutes of talking to him, getting him water, splashing water on his face and holding him just to get him to wake up and stop the yelling and erratic movements. it can be a bit disconcerting, bu he always goes right back to sleep peacefully and never remembers the incident the next day.

our 3 1/2 year old is constant motor - both nurturer and tasmanian tackler, but always at 100 mph! he came into the world that way (at home, not enough time to get to the hospital) and he hasn't slowed a beat yet. he is social, full of laughter, and yet always testing the boundaries as any smart 3 year old does.

then there is the baby sister. other than her episodes of volcanic reflux, she is a pretty content beauty, happy to smile and watch her big brothers entertain her. its truly a match made in heaven - a willing audience and a couple of constant performers.

so we realize as many of you parents out there do - our children are incredibly unique and we are challenged to create extraordinary vision for each of their lives. we desire to know and embrace their uniqueness, identify their gifts and give them every opportunity to grow in their areas of weakness. whether the oldest becomes a movie maker, astronaut or inventor or the middle is the next great hokie linebacker or our little angel grows up to be the next beth moore or first female president, we do not know. we just pray for wisdom to direct them in the path that God has uniquely laid for each of their lives.

we want to know how you are doing this for your children. introduce us to your extraordinary children. tell us of your successes in casting vision according to the "bent of each child."