Each of our children are different, with their own personalities, gifts and challenges.
It is so important to let that sink in. It is so important not to compare them to their siblings, their friends, or even to yourself.
One of our children was not very academic – she found some subjects challenging, but it is possible that her learning style was different from my teaching style. When I read history or literature to a few of my children, this particular daughter would take nothing in. Perhaps I could have explored different ways that she could learn (being a mother of ten, that wasn’t an easy option).
Meanwhile, she was very gifted in music and in dance – both of which we encouraged her to pursue.
But as gifted as she was (and is) in those areas, she is “off the charts” gifted in her social skills and in her care for people. She is able to make every person she meets, whether friend, acquaintance or stranger, feel welcome and loved. And I value that ability very, very much.
I could end right here, because the message that our children each have different gifts and abilities and that the academic-type gifts are not more valuable than other gifts, is a true and important message. But read on:
At the end of her final year of homeschooling high school, Tikvah had some serious medical challenges. Those were dark and difficult days – or rather, a couple of years – but God used them in her life to draw her closer to Himself.
And then…Tikvah decided to pursue an internship for Women’s Ministry through a church across the country. Off she went, only to find that the academic aspect of the internship was extremely rigorous. Tikvah hadn’t initially considered going to university, due to her difficulty with academics, and yet this program was at that level. While she found it daunting at first, she gave it her all, looking to God, and now at the end of this program, she’s at the head of her class, thriving academically to the point where an instructor suggested that she finish her undergrad (this internship can be transferred to a university towards a Bachelor’s degree) and do a double Master’s degree. This was a child who struggled with academics.
I share this story with Tikvah’s permission, to encourage you! God will take care of your children! Look for their unique gifts, pray for them, and trust that God will lead them and cause them to thrive.
