A Lesson from American Idol

American Idol is on again (My name is Megs and I watch American Idol.)

I will never understand the people who sound more annoying than the word mom repeated 235 times who actually think they can sing. I'm sure part of it is trying to grab a little bit of fame, but some of them seem genuinely surprised when the judges tell them their voices are terrible. They sob into their support group and rally against the judges, after all their mom told them they sing beautifully.

If Simon Cowell ever tells my kids they can't sing, I will take it personally. Here is why: It means I have let my children believe something about themselves that isn't true. If I can not be honest with my kids about the quality of their talents, or lack there of, then I have failed them at some level as a mom.

Don't get me wrong, I believe it is important to encourage my kids, especially in the areas they are gifted, but to tell my child she sings beautifully (when she doesn't and I don't want to hurt her feelings) or that he played a great game of baseball (when he struck out every time and I want him to feel better about himself) is a lie. I am only setting them up for failure and potential embarrassment down the road.

Instead, I hope God grants me the wisdom to guide them towards the areas he has gifted them in and push them towards their strengths.

Susie Larson pens a prayer in her upcoming book Growing Grateful Kids (due to be released March 1!), that resonates with me. I have taken it as my own and pray it over my kids.

It goes like this:

Give us a vision for our children's life so we can cooperate with You in its fulfillment. Give our children a heart for their call at a young age so they will make choices that line up with that call.

That is my prayer, and this has been my tirade. :)

Please keep me accountable, so that the only way my child ends up on American Idol, is because she actually has talent!