The Low Jump
Theme of the Week: Parental Affirmative Action
Ron and Matt Jenson
Monday, August 14, 2006
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: You are in our hearts forever. … I have the highest confidence in you, and my pride in you is great (2 Corinthians 7:3-4). Bonus Reading: Romans 1:11-12
Do you know how fleas are trained? They're put into a jar with a lid sealed on it. Then the little critters jump up and down in the jar, hitting their heads on the lid. Eventually, one of the brighter fleas says, "Wait a second. If we jump a little lower, we'll get our aerobic exercise and won't hurt our heads." So they jump lower.
After a while, the fleas' trainers remove the lid. At that moment those minuscule acrobats could jump right out of that jar and go find a mangy ol' hound to feast on. But they don't. Why? Because they've been trained to jump lower, not higher.
That's exactly what happens to many of us. As kids we have big dreams and hopes, but as life goes on, we're exposed to people who tell us we're not that hot or we're too fat, too small, too poor, too messed up, or just plain hopeless … and we start to believe it. We figuratively jump lower.
When dads encourage their sons, they combat any ugly, debilitating messages in their heads. They uplift them by complimenting them, comforting them, and expressing confidence in them. Dads need to become real pros at this.
—Ron and Matt Jenson in Fathers and Sons
My Response: To become a "pro" at raising my children's sights, I need to …
Adapted from Fathers and Sons (Broadman & Holman, 1998) by permission.
Copyright © 2006 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity. 1 of 1
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Lord, the pressures of raising a family can make me come across as a policeman more than a loving parent. Please help me to communicate the love I feel.
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