Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
Proverbs 4:10-12
As we enter this final month of summer fun, we thought we’d share an excerpt from our soon-to-be released book, Straight Lines for Parents: 9 Strategies for Raising Exceptional Kids. No matter what stage of the parenting journey you are at, there’s no better time to consider the kind of legacy you’re leaving than right now:
We watched a television show recently where some aging rock stars were asked what they thought their legacy would be. They stumbled and bumbled for a bit, then came up with a few phrases like “We partied hard,” and “We totally rocked our world.” Really? This is what they hoped to be remembered for? And, tragically, not one of them mentioned anything about family or their children and future generations!
In our world today, legacy often boils down to monetary and tangible aspects of what we’ve accomplished. For instance, some people want to leave behind large amounts of money for their kids and grandkids so they’ll “be secure.” While this is a nice gesture, money can’t be all that we consider when we think about our future. Money can be spent, wasted, and even disappear due to fraud, but the lessons on how to live a satisfying life transcend time.
Actually, these Straight Line Strategies not only transcend time, but they also hold their value for millennia! They were true in the Iron Age, and they’re still true in the Space Age. These truths are based on God’s guidelines and principles, and, as we like to say, why mess with the Creator’s design for great living?
So this discussion begs a critical question: what kind of legacy are you creating?Are you more focused on saving for your kids’ college someday than teaching them the skill sets they need to become motivated, curious, caring, competent individuals who will exceed expectations? Are you strategizing over long-term financial investments-or are you contemplating the lasting benefits of investing time in the Straight Line approaches you’ve been reading about?
There are a few main goals for exceptional parents who want to leave an exceptional legacy:
- You must raise your children to live to their highest potential, exceed expectations, and become inspirational adults one day.
- You must regularly and consistently reinforce that your kids don’t have to be the best, but they must do their best!
- You must focus on your children replicating these Straight Line Strategies in their lives and in the lives of others, including the next generation.
- You must be actively and intentionally engaged in the parenting process all throughout life’s journey.
Parents, we can’t be asleep at the wheel and expect great results in our kids one day! We cannot expect others to teach these skill sets for us, and we certainly shouldn’t expect our children to “pick up” the essential pillars of Faith, Family, and Education on their own! Just like all roads in life, there are specific lines to follow that will get us to the end of our journey safely and successfully.
Our prayer is that you’ll take time to think about your legacy this month-especially when it comes to parenting. If you’d like to pre-order Straight Lines for Parents, please see our Resources section or visit Amazon.com.
Thought of the Month
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
