At this New Year junction we're all busy making goals and plans, and those are good things (I have planning sheets you can use here, for FREE!).
But sometimes I think we focus on the wrong things. What really brings success in life? I don't think it's intelligence. I think it's self-control and motivation.
I know many family members and friends who are extremely intelligent but not successful. They did well in school, have a lot of education, but they aren't succeeding super well at work or in their family life because they are consumed with self. It's all about me. And they can't seem to learn to delay gratification.
We're raising a whole generation of boys who are addicted to video games rather than real life. Many of them are highly intelligent. But what are they going to do with their lives that is productive?
It's funny how our New Year's Resolutions are often dominated by things that probably aren't at the top of the priority list overall. They relate to our weight, don't they? We'll lose weight. We'll exercise. We'll quit chocolate.
But in the end, the most important thing we can do is to stress character, and grow closer to Jesus. That's what's key. And maybe your resolutions reflect that, too: I will do my devotions everyday. I will pray more. Good for you!
But rather than just focusing on these simple, obvious goals, I think we need a plan to make sure that our families are moving in the right direction.
For instance, why is it that with our kids we focus so much on academics, and make them spend so much time in homework, but we don't teach them to cook a meal? Don't you think the latter is important, too? Why do we berate them about grades, but we don't make them do chores, which ultimately will do more to help them hold and keep a job than getting good grades will?
We focus on the easy to measure things. We often fail to focus on character issues.
So this year, as you're making your New Year's Resolutions, try to think in bigger terms. What do you want to stress this year? Talk about it with your husband and kids, too! Who do you want to be as a family? Who do you want to be ten years from now? And how are you going to get there?
For most of us, losing weight is probably a healthy idea. Doing devotions certainly is, too! But what about other things that ultimately will impact your family just as much, if not more?
What about teaching responsibility and character? What about starting a real chore system and sticking to it this year? (I have kids' chore charts and a handy system to categorize all household chores here). What about restricting video games and requiring your kids to volunteer somewhere each month? What about starting a savings account for your kids, and teaching them how to use it?
These are key skills which our society has passed by in favour of leisure, fun, and entertainment. Even in the church. And it's not going to serve our kids well in the long run. So as you're making those New Year's Resolutions, don't just worry about the chocolate. Think about character, too. In the end, that's more important.
About Me: I'm a Christian author of a bunch of books, and a frequent speaker to women's groups and marriage conferences. Best of all, I love homeschooling my daughters, Rebecca and Katie. And I love to knit. Preferably simultaneously.
Stumble It!
Phenomenal post! You hit the nail on the head! I am so blessed I "stumbled" upon your blog. God nudges and we call it "stumble" LOL!