Here is his first blog to the parents – If you are a WR parent or if your son/daughter is feeling a call to the nations – you can log onto:
Userid: [email protected]
Pwd: family
His blog, with a little help from my wife a couple years back while we were living in Africa:
Gary and Lisa Black were coaches of the A, B, C and D squads. They know how to celebrate the successes that Racers have. They set a good precedent for the coaches who followed. They loved the Racers like they were their own children. They hugged them and confronted them equally well. Their Racers sensed their safety and began pouring their hearts out to them.
One of the things I particularly like about Lisa is the way she is a cheerleader for her children’s kingdom destinies. Many parents carry on over their child’s smallest accomplishment in the sports or academic arena (in Little League everyone gets a trophy). Contrast that with Lisa, who sent her then 16 year-old son Tyler around Africa with mission teams for weeks at a time. To give you a closer look at what I’m talking about, here’s a note she wrote him:
My dear son,
What an amazing experience, one you will never forget! I cannot even imagine walking around a foreign country alone at your age! You are fearless, I love that about you! I said to your dad while you were traveling alone that I never worry about you in those situations, you are so smart and brave, but I would be in near panic over any of the rest of the kids….that is a long journey!
I can tell your grandparents are so thrilled to have you, I know you are loving seeing them again. I love your spirit and your encouragement, you are right where you are meant to be and although your absence is heavily felt, we are happy for you. I think God is preparing me for when you all go off on your own, I will miss you all so much, but I will never stand in the way of your life, your dreams, or your inheritance, I promise!”
If you’re Tyler, what does that do for you? Man, if that’s me hearing my mom cheering me on like that, I think I could walk on water. Our kids need us to not only believe the best about them, but to liberally, even sloppily slather on the praise. Yes, it needs to be sincere, but realizing that the first 30 years are identity-forming years, we as parents need to give them a strong foundation of righteous self-confidence.
