Planting Lifelong Skills in Your KidsSample

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE Here’s an important parenting question for you: Are you teaching your children the value of practice? There’s a common trait I’ve noticed among all great athletes – they practice. Even those gifted with unusual natural ability put in countless hours, preparing for the next game. But why? Why would athletes – who have risen to a professional level and are able to compete with the best in the world in their sport – why would they still put in such sweat and determination? The answer is simple. They work on their form and hone their skill in practice, so when they are immersed in the pressure of a real game, their performance will naturally rise to the level of their capabilities. And, really, living life isn’t much different. As parents, we should encourage our children to practice – practice treating others with respect, practice coming alongside people in need, practice defending the truth of God and what’s right. The reason is the same. When our kids leave home and strike out on their own, they’ll need to have the skills of life ingrained within them, so they’ll know how to treat their spouse, how to treat their kids, how to live a godly life. American dancer, Martha Graham, said “We learn by practice. Whether it means to learn dancing by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same.” Moms and dads, let’s encourage our kids to practice the art of living well. For a daily dose of encouragement and perspective, check out Jim Daly’s blog, Daly Focus, at JimDalyBlog.com.