Raising A Creative!

I remember when Austin was in elementary school and he asked if he could take guitar lessons. Wanting to be supportive, we agreed and purchased him his first guitar.  We thought this would just be a phase like his wanting to play trumpet, soccer, basketball and other childhood adventures.  We were wrong...he loved playing guitar.  We knew it was more then a phase when he spent hours playing the guitar in his room.  In six grade he formed his first band called "Little Rock 4".  They played at birthday parties and knew they made it big when as 7th graders they were asked to play at the six grade dance.

Fast forward five years and the guitar is still in his arms.  We soon realized that we were raising a "creative." This was something new to my husband and me.  Our other children had different interests such as sports and orchestra but never saw either as a potential career choice.  As Austin began to speak of making music his vocation, I began to pray that God would show us how to parent, guide and nurture a creative. 

This is what we discovered:

1)  Watch what you do and say as parent...they may write a song about you someday. Ha ha
2)  Never use their passion as currency- If discipline is necessary, don't threaten to take away their instrument or opportunity.
3)  Always direct them to use their talent for God and not man.
4)  Performers experience applause.  Remind your creative that humility is important to God.  Someday the applause will end, but God's love remains.
5) Try not to attach their career choice with earning potential.  If God is leading your creative to study music...He will provide.
6) Nurture a creative environment with boundaries. Sleep is good.


Lastly...find ways to help open doors for them.  Recently, I was listening to 95.5 The Fish and heard an advertisement for Christian Jam.  They were looking for local acts to open for One Girl Nation and Unspoken.  I encouraged my son to apply and guess who is going to be on stage at the IX Center?

This guy....my son Austin. (the one in green)


http://youtu.be/k4gAhQwk3jg



Are you raising a creative?  Enjoy the journey!



Joy

Isaiah 64:8                           

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.