One of the goals of course correction is to train our children’s minds, hearts, bodies, and souls to know and love God. It’s our privilege to introduce our children to the One who created their courses. As parents, we partner with God to reveal His nature to our children and sit in a front-row seat to watch how God has uniquely created each child He entrusts to us. What an honor God has extended to us to be a part of shaping another’s life!

HOW CAN WE “SPUR ONE ANOTHER ON TOWARD LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS” (HEBREWS 10:24) WITHOUT FOCUSING ON OUR LIMITS BUT RATHER DIRECTING OUR ATTENTION TOWARD THE COURSE CREATOR?

We all know that if we are told NOT to think about a pink-and-white-striped elephant sitting on a purple velvet couch, we will immediately have that silly image float through our minds. Because of human nature, this concept also influences how we go about course correction with our children. As soon as we position something “off limits,” the focus narrows down to that off-limits object. It can be a challenge to teach kids that we have been created with God-given limits. Many of our limitations are part of the original design of humanness, not a product of the fall in the garden. We are most alive and can experience the full capacity of our humanness when we embrace our limits and depend on a limitless God. In this sense, course correction should be about reminding our children where they can freely go, be, and do.

How can we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24) without focusing on our limits but rather directing our attention toward the Course Creator? God gives us the answer in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This month let’s take time in prayer to train our focus away from what we cannot do or be but instead look toward what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. Look up the definitions to each of those words with your children and then write ways you see each member of your family demonstrate each word. Then list how you see those qualities in God. Take each list and cut it into strips and place them in a jar, a small gift bag, or a box. Throughout the month pull out those strips and speak them over one another. You may find it helpful to have these words available in moments of course correction with your children; encourage your children with what is true and lovely about their identity and remind them that your desire is for them to live more fully out of that reality.