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Raising Kids for True Greatness by Dr. Tim Kimmel

•Abundant thinkers start with the presupposition that all good things n life have no boundaries. When it comes to what life has to offer, they assume that there is plenty for everyone.

 

•When you assume that all the good things in life are unlimited, you automatically focus outward. Life becomes one grand opportunity to make a positive difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

•Abundant thinkers assume the following:

 

oThe best ideas havent been thought up yet.

oThe best books have yet to be written.

oThe best companies have yet to be incorporated.

oThe best songs have yet to be sung.

oThe best sermons havent been preached yet.

oThe best years of their marriage are still ahead.

oThe best memories of their family are waiting to be made.

 

•The common denominator of parents who raise kids for true greatness is that God is their life.

 

•If misery loves company, then I can guarantee you that true greatness loves it too. And just as broken people tend to gravitate to broken people, truly great people tend to gravitate to others who share their value system.

 

•The primary reason truly great people have better marriages and enjoy more economic success. Two words: low maintenance. People who are humble, grateful, generous and have a servant attitude are naturally balanced when it comes to day-to-day challenges. They are easier to live with, to laugh with, and to love on. They dont run up irrational debt or need to live extravagant lives. Their egos arent out of control which makes them quick to process conflict. If you want to set your child up to enjoy a peaceful, passionate, and productive marriage relationship, just raise them for true greatness..

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oThey take good care of what has been provided for them.

oThey verbally express their appreciation to the people who sacrifice to help them (teachers, coaches, food servers, Sunday school teachers, youth workers, and so on).

oThey view each day with a joyful attitude regardless of the setbacks that might come their way.

oThey focus on the good things in their lives and the good qualities in the people they encounter.

 

•What does generosity look like in our childrens daily lives?

oThey view everything they have as belonging to God.

oThey set aside a portion of their allowance, gifts, or income to give back to God and to invest in others.

oIts second nature for them to offer the biggest piece of pie or the last cookie to someone else.

oThey gladly surrender their rooms or their stuff when somebody needs it more.

oThey look for ways to make someone happy with what they have to offer (toys, clothes, food, friendship, skills, talents, and so on).

 

•What does a servant attitude look like in our childrens daily lives?

oThey dont grumble or complain when they are asked to do their chores.

oThey look for ways to help people who need a hand up in life.

oThey realize that serving others isnt always personally appreciated or publicly recognized, and they dont take it personally.

oBefore they leave a gathering, they do everything they can to help the host put everything back in order.

oInstead of expecting to be waited on at home, they assume responsibility for themselves and offer to help their parents and siblings.

 

•Of the 4 characteristics of grace being lived out loudserving othersis without doubt the key to making all of the others happen. Bottom line: people who dont live with an attitude of constantly being available to serve the needs of others can never have the words truly great describe them.

 

•If you want to be happy and influence your children to greatness, serving other people needs to be an attitude that summarizes your life.

 

•Abundant thinking vs. Scarcity thinking

 

•Scarcity thinkers start with the presupposition that life is finite:

 

oIdeaslimitedoResourceslimited

oImaginationlimited

oOpportunitieslimited

oLovelimited

 

 

•The biggest challenges our kids will face:

 

oWhat is my mission in life going to be?

oWho is my mate going to be?

oWho is my master going to be?

 

•Put another way: What am I going to do with my life?  Who will I spend my life with?  Who will I live it for?

 

•God has not called us to raise safe kids; Hes called us to raise strong ones. He hasnt called us to raise popular kids; Hes called us to raise spiritually potent ones.

 

•True greatness: grace that demonstrates itself in the attitudes of humility and gratefulness that ultimately lead to the actions of generosity and a servant attitude.

 

•What does humility look like in our childrens daily lives?

 

oThey dont play to the crowd when they score the winning run or plunge over the goal line for the decisive touchdown.

oThey dont have to be first in line, insist on their way, or automatically be in chargeregardless of their leadership capabilities.

oThey dont brag about their possessions or the privileges that accompany their parents wealth.

oThey graciously accept a compliment without a self-effacing comeback.

oThey accept victory modestly and lose with their heads held high.

 

•What does gratefulness look like in our childrens daily lives?

oThey dont whine about what they dont have or complain about what they do have.

 

Redefining Success:

 

 People who are humble, grateful, generous and have a servant attitude are naturally balanced when it comes to day-to-day challenges. 

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