Home Grown

Some of my fondest memories as a kid were eating vegetables. I know it doesn’t make sense but it’s true; I’ve always had a monster appetite for beans, squash, tomatoes and all other goodies grown from the ground. My parents are gardeners which helps explain my love of vegetables. Once you’ve had purple hull peas fresh off the vine, it makes you feel sad for those held captive months on end in a can. Home grown’s just hard to imitate! Gardening takes time and effort but the return on investment is pretty good!

I think about my parenting in a more intentional way during the month of July. Two of our kids have birthdays and with another school year impending it’s a great time for a little evaluation. If there’s one thing I’ve realized in life (parenting included) so much is out of my control. I have to be at peace with that or it will drive me crazy. But, while there are no guarantees, there are some things I can do that have a major impact on outcomes. Like remembering the best things in life are home grown!

It might sound silly but fresh vegetables were a value in our family. Both for health and taste we celebrated a good meal. It made the effort to attain it worth it because the culture of our family valued it. Some of the great leaders I get to work with every day have always said the things we celebrate will eventually become the culture. It’s true in any work environment or church. It’s also true of what grows in our homes. The things that I celebrate will most likely be the very things my children grow to value.

So it begs the question. What do I celebrate? Baseball averages, test scores, hard work, beauty, bravery?? All of those are great things but they’re not fundamental to what I claim my heart’s desire is for my kids.

I went on a quest searching for help that led to a confluence of ideas with a bit of a gardening twist. I was sitting in church next to a pastor that I respect who happens to have raised 4 girls to accomplish the one desire I have for my kids: to passionately love Jesus and reflect that love back to others. So I asked him how he did it? He was honest and humble but said a few times a week they got in the habit of celebrating the fruit of the Spirit demonstrated in each others lives. So simple yet mind blowing! Celebration is a powerful force!

There’s time for correction but without celebration my kids lack the clarity of what they’re aiming for. It’s not my place to determine the values of your family, that’s for you to decide. I do have one question though: is what you are celebrating accomplishing your overall goal? What we celebrate eventually becomes the culture and culture trumps do’s and don’ts every time!