Key Verse: Verse 6 – “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;"
Key Words: Having then gifts differing
May we do away with all the preliminary stuff and get right down to the nitty-gritty? Some children have much greater handicaps than others and these young ones are destined for emotional turmoil in life. You can see it coming like a storm brewing in the western sky. They are not as attractive as the other kids. They do not catch on to the academic requirements as do the other kids. They are not as athletically inclined as are the others. Why, early in life they are branded by their peers as a “reject.”
Though this may be hard to accept as a parent, it can be a positive if we, as parents, handle it correctly. Remember a tree planted in the rain forest is never forced to extend its roots down; thus, any moderate storm can topple the weak-rooted tree. Adversity can cause a child’s roots to go deep if we learn to compensate. That means we have to counter-balance our child’s weaknesses by capitalizing on their strengths; and it is our job, as parents, to find these strengths.
Bobby Fischer, arguably the world’s greatest chess player, was asked by Merv Griffin what caused his desire to play chess. Bobby Fischer’s response was one of “compensation.” He said, “As a child I was not attractive, not very bright academically, and certainly not athletic. My dad taught me to play chess. Why, I could beat anyone at chess. It became the means by which I was ‘accepted’ by my peers.” He goes on to say, “You win a school or state championship at anything and you become an instant hero.” While I certainly do not think our god is heroism, the point is to compensate.
Thomas Wolfe, the author of such best-selling books as You Can’t Go Home Again and Look Homeward, Angel, was the result of compensation. Thomas could write; but he, by today’s standards, would be the school nerd. However, his parents early in his life learned to compensate for their son’s weak areas by focusing on his strength and ability to write.
As parents, find your child’s strengths, whether it is music, writing, poetry, arts and crafts, mechanical or woodwork. Not all of life is built around beauty, brains, and athletics. Learn to COMPENSATE. Always teach your children that no matter what their abilities and inabilities may be, Jesus will accept them where they are and for what they are!!
What to do:
✞ Learn to compensate, not compromise.
✞ Teach your child that everyone has different gifts, and not to be angry because they do not have the same gifts as others their age. God made them special – just the way He wants them.
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