Mini-Me?

One of the sidebar statements that came out this morning at the men's meeting was the importance of "raising adults", training our kids to be good adults, good parents, good Christians later on in life. My wife posted a list of things that she wants to teach our kids, and I wanted to add a little to that from "daddy's point of view" (just a bit more "wordy", maybe):

• Sense of Humor - Teach them what's funny, what's not funny, how to avoid what's hurtful and exploitive and gross so that they've got a real deep (if somewhat sarcastic) sense of humor.
  
• Be Well-read - Love to read, read all you can, find magazines or newspapers or sites that give information that's worth having and retaining.
  
• Ask Questions - Anyone who knows me knows that I think a good question is usually more meaningful than a good answer anytime. I want to instill in them the idea that "I don't know" and "What if?" are viable ways of processing what's going on, and to test it all within the context of scripture, church community and family. And don't be afraid to disagree, or to ask the question you think needs to be addressed.
  
• Heroism - There's something so beyond ourselves, so beyond what we think we're capable of, and it starts by doing the right thing because it's the right thing, no matter what the cost.
  
• Wonder & Imagination - Never get bigger than your world or your worldview, but read books and stories, see movies, listen to music that will stretch your horizons.
  
• Choose Wisely - "Train up a child in the way he should go" means more than teaching them right and wrong. Teach them to know God, and to know Him well. Instill in them with the ability to choose wisely in the grey areas, to see what's worthwhile and beneficial versus what's allowable or not.
  
• Right & Wrong - Okay, there is right and there is wrong in this world, and there is good and there is evil. In choosing wisely, it's important to build upon and to hold strongly those values that have been handed down. While sometimes "choosing wisely" means letting them go, this should be the result of real struggle and internal turmoil - it shouldn't be that easy to let go of what's important, what really matters.
  
• Optimistic Cynicism - Give people the benefit-of-the-doubt, and look for the good ar at least the that's-not-so-bad in all the junk life will throw at you. While questioning things or ideas, believe that the best will come through - replace whining with a mindset to move past the problem to what lies ahead.
  
• Replicate - Be someone worth imitating, and then pour yourself into someone else. Work yourself out of a job; teach people to do what you do; disciple others and allow yourself to be discipled back.

Hmmmmm. Maybe I better work on how well I'm processing this list, too, while we're at it...