And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Colossians 3:17, 23 NIV
The other day, I sat with my two oldest kids in the chiropractor’s waiting room. A lady on the other side of the counter stood transfixed, watching my son solve his Rubik’s cube. The click, click of his rapid moves and the colors shifting did have a mesmerizing effect. It seemed like a magic trick when fifteen seconds later all the colors had migrated to their correct sides.
My daughter sat nearby, sketching on her tablet. The scene for the picture book she was illustrating took shape before my eyes. It seemed to grow like a living thing from an idea in her head to a fully fleshed-out character. It felt like I was watching pure creation, something from nothing. I marveled at her talent. The proud papa inside me strutted around as her fingers guided the pen with dexterity and precision.
I am a little jealous of both my children’s skills. My son taught me how to solve the Rubik’s Cube, but I am still slow, clumsy, and constantly forgetting the algorithms. I don’t understand how his brain can calculate the moves so quickly. His speed solving is a product of a naturally-gifted mind (his mother’s side) and countless hours of practicing.
With art, I have wanted to draw as well as my daughter since I was a kid. I realize now it just isn’t going to happen. I haven’t got the time to build the skills. Her determination, focus, and high standards inspire me. A skill set like drawing combined with modern digital tools has unleashed her gifts. Each year her prowess grows. How fun is that? I think kids should be encouraged to develop a few of their interests to mastery. It is a different kind of learning than what they are required to do in school.
Starting when they are young, a father should observe his kids interacting with the world and take note of the things that light them up. He may be discovering a natural talent. Provide more exposure time, materials, and instruction so they can explore. Are they still lighting up? Do they ask about it? Do you catch them doing it during their playtime? Bingo!
Teach them to be self-motivated learners of that subject. This is like kindling a flame. Provide the encouragement they need to excel, but you don’t need to force it. Too much pressure will smother the flame before it can spread. We want our kids to identify skills that they enjoy and choose to pursue them. The magic of this is that their learning will become internally motivated, the flame will grow to a roaring bonfire of enthusiasm and skill acquisition. Once they learn how to learn, they can apply that spark to new endeavors. A self-motivated learner rips through obstacles that would stymie the average person. This talent will serve your children well in life.
