But on the other hand, lets now do what we have to do to help with the problem rather than point the finger!! Let's stop giving out the "participation" stuff and lets start rewarding those that excel but let's also make sure we encourage them all to keep going and do their best!! We need to instill value and worth in them rather than the idea that everyone is equal. Listen, everyone is created equal in the eye of the Lord but everyone of use has different abilities and gifting. Let's help our young people to see and understand this and encourage them to be all they can be for the Lord!! We also need to help them understand that life is going to knock them down and if they don't learn it while they are under our care then they will not be able to cope when they are out of our care and the world "chews them up and spits them out"!! Do you want to know why young people are seeking "Safe Zones" as adults when things don't go their way? Because as parents we raised them up in "Safe Zones" by not allowing them to fall and then not teaching them when they do fall to get back up!! As a parent we have to teach them that their value is who God has created them to be! Not that they are to be the same as everyone else and that no one is better than any other! The Scripture tells us to "not provoke our children to anger." Is that not what we are doing by teaching them that they will never fall or have a hardship! I think so!! Also, the Scripture tells us to "raise up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it." It is our responsibility to teach our children the ways of God more than protecting their "feelings". If we look at the Word of God we see that there are differing abilities and gifting and God can use any of these for His glory. One more thought! God says that "in our weakness is when He is strongest"! My prayer is that "God help would us to do what we have been called to and to walk in all that we have had put before us here to do!" God Bless!!
In Christ,
Bro. W. Dee Daniel