Last night Todd and I enjoyed some extra family time with our boys. I treasure each moment knowing that they will be grown and gone before you know it.   They are only 10 and 12 but I know we only have a short amount of time to invest in them.  We work daily at letting them know they are more valuable to us than the ministry.  As busy as church planting can get we don’t want them to think it is more important.  So we schedule as much quality time as we can with them between school, church, and the business of life in NYC on Staten Island.  We schedule it so that we can guard it. 

This  most challenging mentoring relationship is also the one I find the most rewarding.  It is also the one that keeps me on my knees the most. Mentoring your children is the opportunity given to us by God which can encompass all 7 types of mentoring…Hero, Teacher, Discipler, Counselor, Equipper, Life Coach and Champion.  A good life coach will share powerful statements but also ask good  questions.  Here are a few that I like to use with my children…

1. I believe in you.
2. You can count on me.
3. I treasure you.
4. I’m sorry, please forgive me.
5. Because (I share from Scripture why, read out loud or they read)
6. No
7. I love you.
8. Of all the little boys in the world, how did I get the best one?

(The last 4 are questions I got from Andy Stanley who will ask his kids as he is hugging them good night.)          

9.  Is everything okay in your heart?

10. Are you angry at anyone?

11.  Are you worried about anything?

12.  Do you feel guilty about anything?

Do you have any to add?