It's a good idea. I've done this before in classes where my students didn't seem to be getting along and needed to be reminded that everyone has good qualities and brings value to the classroom.
Annie's list proclaimed that she:
- is pretty,
- dresses nicely,
- is someone several of them want to know better,
- has pretty hair,
- is nice,
- is hilarious,
- and is intelligent (ironically, it was misspelled).
All of these are flattering, but the majority of them are superficial. Most of the comments focused on the first four things listed above. And I would agree with all of them. Annie does take care of her appearance and she was blessed with her grandmother's beauty--including the amazing dimple and naturally slim, athletic body.
But, I don't want her to see these as her true assets. "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)
Annie is so much more than a pretty face.
She has a big heart. She worries. My daughter worries about other people (especially her twin, Andy) and wants everyone to be happy. She is nurturing. I love to watch her "mother" Emmri and Greyson, the little neighbor girls. She loves her friends and family. Like me (and probably Heath), she associates people and events with music. There are songs on her iPod that she listens to specifically to remind her of times with her cousin, Tyler, and Grandpa Tyler...as well as her brother, Heath, who is in the Navy.
Every girl should have to go through an "ugly phase" to learn some empathy for others. Not all girls do. My biggest fear for my daughters is that they will be "mean girls". Mean Girl syndrome stems from jealousy and pride. I know, I had my own bouts. Mean girls get their value from their looks, boyfriends, and status (ie. popularity).
I don't want my daughters to assess their value on these things.
Lord God,
Please give my daughters empathy for all people. Help them understand that beauty, boyfriends, and popularity do not determine their value. In fact, help them choose NOT to desire to be popular. Instead, lead them to live their lives according to Your will, which is counter-cultural and not popular. Give them friends that will support them and hold them accountable.
Help Todd and I to teach them to not judge others as they see their peers make bad choices. But help them avoid the same bad choices. And when they do make mistakes, give them a remorseful heart and remind them that Your Son died so that they can be forgiven. Give them the strength to say "No" even when they have made the mistake of saying "Yes" before. Repentance is hard and painful and full of temptations. Turn their hearts toward You when they must go through it.
Continue to help our girls nurture tender hearts. Help us instill in them that their value is not in their appearance or status, but in their impact on others. We pray that the Holy Spirit will give them the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Give them the desire to seek You above all else. And help us be the examples that we need to be. Remind us every day that we are the spiritual guides of our children--not our church and not our youth pastors. Give us the desire to learn every day from You so that our children will see this and know that You are the focus of our daily lives.
Thank you for blessing us with our amazing daughters...as well as our cherished sons. Be with them all every single day...reminding them that they are Your children, too.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment