You know that feeling you get when you do something you truly love doing? Whatever it may be, it’s something you find extremely enjoyable and you love to do it, sometimes above almost anything else.

One of the best illustrations I can think of are gamers. You know them. These are those people who love video games, to the point of obsession. One of the kids in my very first youth ministry was like this. He loved the game Halo. He played it almost every waking moment, and actually payed in some national level tournaments, placing pretty well. That was his passion.

That kid had a passion. You have one. I have one.

And your kids have a passion.

They might not know what it is yet, but I bet it’s starting to display itself. Maybe they have several interests right now, but eventually those will narrow down to one or two single things that they absolutely love to do. It may be games. It could be hunting or fishing. It might be reading, chess, bowling, painting, volunteering, or a myriad of other things.

But here’s the kicker for us as dads. As our kids figure out what their passion is, they need our help. And they need our encouragement.

Here are a few things you can do to help foster an environment where your kids can find their passion, explore it, and embrace it.

Watch your kids

Tune into them when they play or do things that they enjoy. Watch for the activities that excite and bring happiness. As your kids grow, these will probably change. My oldest son loved Thomas the Train, and toy trucks and cars. As he grew older, he has refined that enjoyment to include figuring out how things work and function. Will he stay interested in this? I don’t have a clue. But right now, I find things that challenge his thinking and he figures out how they work.

Expose your kids to many things

Cultural events. Museums. Sports. Missions. Service opportunities. Community events. Concerts. I’ve taken my kids to professional baseball games, monster truck exhibitions, orchestra performances, plays, museums and more. The diversity gives them plenty of experience with many things to find out what they really love.

Pay attention to strengths and weaknesses

Of my six kids, not a single one of them has chosen to pursue similar activities. My oldest daughter loves volleyball and cheerleading. My next oldest daughter says she wouldn’t be caught dead in a cheerleader’s uniform, and prefers to play with pets. Keep in mind the individual strengths and interests of each child. Be open to what they express interest in, and make sure to encourage them where you see their talents improving.

Here is why this is important. As your kids develop their passion, that produces energy. They love what they are doing, and it shows. Their passion motivates them, and ignites others. As they share their excitement with others, they often join in and get excited as well. And passion provided potential. Passion provides open doors for opportunities that may not exist otherwise.

Encourage your kids to find and hone their passions. And rejoice in their diversity as you see them grow as individuals.

Be deliberate, Dad!

Have you figured out your kids’ passions? What are they? You can leave your thoughts in the comments by clicking here.