Most colleges can't/won't or don't have as part of their bally wick to teach our kids what they should do with their life - and sadly, even what to major with. (Trust me, I believe they should, but truth be told, few do.)
Just a thought: as parents, why should we invest HUGE amounts of money in educating our children to do things they' re not even sure they're gifted, interested or have the guts to do?
Yet, the Bible actually does encourage parents to be proactive about what most colleges don't do: Help students find what they focus on in studies, majors, career and life. Even if our parents never did this for us, it's part of what parents do. (Most of our parents were simply not equipped to do this, but this doesn't mean we can't be equipped)
Though Proverbs 22:6 is often translated, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart far from it," a more accurate English translation from the Hebrew would be, "Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], (emphasis mine) and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6.
Basically, great parents not only "get their kids to Sunday School" - great parents equip their children to lean into and live into their design and gifting. They get to know each child and teach them how to live in the world using their talents, personality, spiritual gifts passions, interests - their bent.
A mandate for parents is to help each of our children NOT just get a degree, a good job and get off the couch - but find their God-given, individual purpose.
Here's what I have come to believe: Many kids who don't know what they're good at, don't know why they are the way they are and what can uniquely offer the world rebel. They wander. They waste money shifting between majors trying to "find themselves." Why wouldn't they?
Colleges don't help them do that. At least yet. (talk to me about this!)
The Hebrew word for "way he should go" means that my sons, and your sons, daughters, grandchildren... have a way to go... a particular "bent." When shot from a bow, the arrow will only go straight in its specific direction when the bow bends the way a bow is supposed to bend. Bend it the other way and it may even snap.
So, for those interested - here are some ways to proactively coach kids before they get to college or a career.
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