Identifying Child Strengths: Finding God's Gifts in Your Kid

Oct 14, 2025

Explore the transformative power of recognizing children's strengths in the face of misbehavior. Hear how personal shifts in parenting can turn discipline into connection. Discover the idea of 'gifts gone awry' and learn to focus on nurturing what's right instead of just correcting wrongs. Inspirational stories illustrate how reframing challenges into gifts can motivate kids. Biblical examples highlight the importance of purpose over perfection, reminding us that every child is made for greatness.

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ANECDOTE

Argumentative Child As Truth-Teller

Stacey Bellward realized her argumentative daughter's need to have the last word was actually a gift for truth-telling and justice.
Reframing that behavior helped the daughter use her strong voice toward a legal career interest.

INSIGHT

Connection Enables Lasting Influence

When parents build safety and unconditional love, they earn true respect that allows mentoring in wisdom and purpose.
This relationship opens the chance to spot gifts in misbehavior and coach kids toward responsibility.

ADVICE

Shift From Fault To Strength

Shift focus from what's wrong to strengthening what's right by noticing raw gifts behind unpleasant behavior.
Use encouragement and practical tools to help children redirect those gifts toward honoring purposes.

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Today on the Podcast :

This episode is about identifying child strengths and recognizing the God-given gift hidden in their most frustrating misbehavior. In this teaching from our Discipline That Connects course, Jim and Lynne Jackson introduce the powerful concept of “Gifts Gone Awry,” showing parents how lying can reveal intelligence, arguing can signal courage to speak truth, and defiance often masks courage. When you learn to call out the gift instead of just correcting the behavior, you communicate to your child: “You are Called and Capable.”

Key Takeaways:

Misbehavior has a God-given gift at its core
Calling out the gift changes the relationship – from just managing behavior to building their identity and your connection.

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In Case You Missed It:

Got a strong-willed child? Parent Coach, Tara Prevo, helps parents come alongside their child as a teammate, celebrate creative problem-solving, and guide with empathy in Strong-Willed Child and Unconditional Love? Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Parents | [Mini-Episode].

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Sensitive kids with angry outburst can also have intense happy energy.

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