Parenting Your Child's Design

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In this sample from Chapter 5 the relationship between a child's passions and how they are like a compass directing the path of a child. This and other helpful illustrations are provided to assist you in parenting your child.

When I was nine years old, we lived in a tin roofed home on a small farm in central Arizona. It was a paradise for a young adventurer. One of the experiences I had on the old farm shaped the passions of my heart for the rest of my life.

Early one morning a plane roared overhead just above our house. The sound of the radial engine was thrilling, and the sight of the big, yellow biplane soaring gracefully through the sky so low to the ground sent chills up my spine. I watched as the plane flew over neighboring crops dusting them between maneuvers around telephone poles, and structures. As quickly as the plane maneuvered to dust a row it again turned, and slowed as the pilot lined up the plane with the dirt strip, and then landed in a few fields over. A few minutes later he took off again, and it was all I could take. I started running toward where he landed watching the graceful biplane the entire time. I could feel the shadow as he passed overhead blocking the Arizona sun. The strip he landed on was a lot farther than I thought, although it didn’t matter because I had all the energy I needed to get there. Field after field, along paved roads to dirt roads, and finally to the small temporary dirt strip I ran as fast as I could to get to the landing strip. As I stood panting at the departure end of the small dirt strip he made his final approach, and landed to reload chemicals for the last time. His partner got back in his service truck and drove off. The biplane made its final passes and then disappeared over the horizon, but never from my mind. That day is still vivid in my mind; as I am still filled with excitement, and anticipation about flying.

Years latter I am still passionate about flying. It seems to be engrained into my being, and the very thought of flight brings excitement to my heart. I earned my private pilot’s license, and instrument rating in my early thirties, and after two thousand hours as a pilot I still get a thrill out of takeoffs and landing. A passion developed in me on a sunny day as I watched a big yellow biplane dust crops.

Seeing passion in our children.

From an early age each of our children has flown with me over the years I let them take the controls, and “feel” the plane in their hands. Jason caught the fever just like I did, and over time he developed a passion for flying.

Seeing Jason’s interest in flying, Theresa, and I began encouraging him with rides in our airplane, books about flying, and stories of exciting flying adventures. When he was getting close to the age where he could get his private pilot’s license, we began encouraging him to pursue his passion by taking flying lessons. With his own hard earned cash he started working toward his dream while he was in high school, and soon after graduating he received his private pilot’s license. He since earned his instrument rating, and he is working diligently toward becoming a commercial airline pilot.

Jason’s passion followed his personal profile; he was born to be a pilot. Everything about his profile points to a profession where caution, attention to detail, development of others, recurring training, a talent for constant improvement, a servant’s heart, and a steady temperament are a part of the job description.

Using Passion as a Compass.

Some drivers use a compass mounted on their dash to help them get a bearing on their position relative to north. A compass is very handy when you are in an area you are a little unsure of, especially at night. As you observe your child’s desires and passions, you are reading a compass, interpreting traffic signs and getting clues pointing you toward where your child’s heart is. Passion comes from thoughts, which well up out of what we value and believe. As your children grow, the best way to understand how God made them is to observe what they love and what their desires are. What they value is part of what is behind the passion, when coupled with something, which excites what they value (such as flying in Jason’s case) a desire is intensified, and becomes apparent through observation and dialog. As a child develops he meditates on what excites his heart, and what he believes has value, which in turn develops a love and desire.

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