I recommend an excellent video titled, She Will Always Be Enough / Spoken Word Poetry. Ellowyn Stanton created this message as an encouragement for young ladies to not buy what the culture and peers often try to sell – pressure to look, dress or act a certain way. Everyone is an individual, enough as they are. Each person is beautiful in their own unique way. I encourage viewing this video with the women in your life.
It is no easy feat to write, choreograph, record and edit such a video production. It is equaled only by Ellowyn’s confidence in taking on the sensitive topic of self-image. Her dad, rightfully so, has many reasons to be proud of his daughter. But I also want to give a shout out to the dad. Studies show daughters that have a strong relationship with their dad, tend to perform better academically, are not likely to succumb to peer pressure and, in general, are more comfortable in their own skin than girls that do not have a relationship with dad. Young ladies live into the character and confidence a dad instills.
So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number;” – Genesis 1:27-28. “… in the image of God He created them” – The Heavenly Father created mankind to be good enough. Made in God’s image, Adam and Eve had everything they needed in the perfect garden. Confidence in who they were and Whose they were was enough. Then the tempter showed up and suggested they were not good enough. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”… “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:1, 5. There are many tempting voices in the world today telling women and men alike that they are not good enough as they are. Voices that say, “Just start this practice, take that pill, make these changes to your body, and you can be your own god.” Dads and moms must be the mature ones. Kids have to be prepared for their struggle with self-image that everyone works through at some point in life. Kids need to hear, early and often, that they are good enough as they are, and that they have what it takes to step forward in their unique giftedness. Dad has much power on this front.
Here are some tips to use that power wisely:
Prioritize physical presence in your child’s life, get to know her unique giftedness;
Be engaged emotionally and encourage your child early and often;
Lead spiritually by example and affirm your child as an heir of God, and co-heir with Jesus the Christ (Romans 8:17). As such, she is good enough as she is;
Schedule one-on-one time with each child to support the three points above regularly. Enjoy dinner dates, weekend retreats and at least one extended trip.
Prayer guide: Thank You Lord for Your word and for Your example as the perfect Father. I confess a lack of physical, emotional and spiritual engagement with my children. I pushed conformance to my dreams for them instead of support in developing their unique giftedness. Forgive me. I know You have blessed every child to be enough in who they are and Whose they are. Help me engage with, and encourage my children in their uniqueness, to not conform to culture but confident in being enough where they are, by Your grace and for Your glory. That is the dad You call me to be and that is the dad the next generation needs. Amen.
A faithful father engages with, and encourages children in their unique giftedness.
