Moms, Dads, we are the premier visioncasters. We must paint a vividly clear picture in the minds and hearts of our children of what they can become in their character, conduct, and even their careers. We must pour into their spongelike souls a vision of what they could accomplish with their lives. After all, we see their potential far better than they do.
It is incumbent upon us as stewards of these precious lives to introduce them to their potential, to lift their eyes off of today’s realities and focus them on tomorrow’s possibilities. We must ask God to give us a clear vision for our children and cast it every opportunity we get.
The most significant visions are not cast by great orators from a stage. They are cast at the bedsides of our children. The greatest visioncasting opportunities happen between the hours of 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday. In these closing hours of the day we have a unique opportunity to plant the seeds of what could be and what should be. Take advantage of every opportunity you get.
Not long ago I was lying down with Andrew, my six-year-old, and Garrett, who just turned five, going through our nightly routine of verses, stories, and prayer. I don’t know why I chose this particular night to introduce the subject of God’s special plan for their lives, but I did. After our prayers I leaned down close to Andrew and said, “God has something special for your life, and I can’t wait to find out what it is.”
Without hesitating he asked, “What’s yours?”
“What’s my what?” I asked.
“What’s God’s special thing for your life?” he said.
I wasn’t prepared for that. So I did what most dads do in a situation like that. I called a time out. “Andrew, it’s late, but I will tell you all about that tomorrow night.”
That began a whole new level of dialogue between my sons and me. As I have an opportunity to describe “God’s special thing” in my life, I am finding opportunity after opportunity to point them toward a preferred future for their lives—what could be, what should be. My most significant visioncasting takes place on my knees with my face twelve inches away from the faces of my children.
– Visioneering: God’s Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Vision