Creative Potential

Creative Potential

There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

Proverbs 31:29

As a mom who has raised three young people out of the teenage years, I’ve learned that the best way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them busy in creative ways. Two of our teens played basketball, and we also encouraged part-time jobs and personal hobbies, such as learning to play the guitar, studying sign language, and writing stories. It seems that the Amish understand the same principle:

The concept of Gelassenheit, submission to the authority of the church and scripture, becomes ever more clear as young people grow up. Submission to what is not available—and that will include a great many freedoms that they see around them among their English peers—can also be thoughtfully counterbalanced.

Cooperation paired with creative outlets for young energy and artistic gifts can become essential as the child reaches adolescence. Craftwork is always encouraged, and so beautiful baskets, quilts and runners, rocking chairs and bookcases fill the shop shelves, made by hand by young people who are working side-by-side with their parents, older siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends.

It’s easy to put limits on young people in our lives. It’s easy to set requirements for them too. What is harder is investing the time required to lead them, guide them, and train them, yet we can share in their joy when we help them discover their creative bents. That’s exactly what God asks us to do. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

The time and influence we put into young people’s lives will be multiplied as they embrace their capabilities and make God’s virtues their own. And as we guide them, we need to look at ourselves. Do we continue to allow God to make us into the people He’s designed us to be? We won’t truly know our potential until we place ourselves in God’s hands.

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for designing each of us with undiscovered potential. Help me to realize it in myself and to help others do the same.