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G is for Great
By Trina Titus Lozano
In Jim Collins best selling book Good to Great, he makes the opening statement that “Good is the enemy of great.” I believe that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just too easy to settle for a good life. I will add that we don’t raise great kids, because we just want them to be good.My grandma never allowed my mom to say “I can’t.” That “can do” attitude has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. I would recommend to my children that they re-phrase that statement to “maybe someday I will be able to,” or “through Christ all things are possible.” Encouraging greatness in our children has nothing to do with prideful expectations, perfection, or false praise. It comes from our deep rooted understanding of God’s greatness. Teach your children 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may EXCEL in every good work. Also John 10:10 is a good one. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.Practical tips on raising GREAT kids:1) Be positive2) Encourage them to develop a wide range of interests and skills3) Find their gifts and talents4) Introduce them to GREAT people 5) Don’t expect them to fulfill your dreams6) Teach them that God created them to be GREAT and He has a special plan for their life.Greatness requires follow through until the very end, and then follows through some more. It means never giving up. The power of the Holy Spirit will help you to persevere no matter what trial may tempt you or your child to be discouraged. The Chinese poet Lao-tzu wrote, “Most people fail when they are on the verge of success, so give as much care to the end as to the beginning, then there will be no failure.”Matthew 25:21His Lord said to Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
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