Basketball, Bows, and Arrows: The importance of vision-casting for your child

Mo Johnson was a postal worker in my hometown with a barrel chest and a big afro. He was a faithful husband, loving father, and deacon at my church.

But to me, he was Coach Mo, my eighth-grade basketball coach, which made him very important. I’ll never forget him, because he was the first person besides my dad to cast a vision for what I could be. After a few good games, he pulled me aside and said, “Hobbsie, you could be good at this if you worked at it consistently.” Those words put lightning in my veins. I put in the work, went on to score 1,400 points in high school, 1,500 in college, and even received offers to play professionally overseas. In my small corner of the basketball world, Coach Mo cast the vision, and I brought it to life.

Andy Stanley reminds us, “Every relationship is a potential vision-casting opportunity.” And what relationship matters more than a parent and child?

When my kids were in elementary school, I often thought about the kind of people I wanted them to become. Eventually, my wife and I boiled it down to a simple, memorable mantra:

“Be WHUT God wants you to be. WORK hard, be HONEST, be UNSELFISH, be TOUGH.”

I said it every morning at drop-off and every night at bedtime. Over and over. Now that my kids are grown, “WHUT” still pops up in family group texts. Are they teasing me? A little. Do they remember it? Absolutely. Are they living it? I believe so.

Psalm 127:3–5 says children are like arrows in the hands of a warrior. Parents are called to aim and release them into the world. So, the question is: in which direction are you aiming your child? Here are a few practical ways to cast a vision for them:

Aim at God’s Call

Proverbs 29:18 teaches that without a vision of God, people perish. Help your child understand that God has a unique calling for their life, and that true fulfillment comes from pursuing it.

Aim at Behaviors

Don’t tie your vision to careers or achievements. Instead, aim for Christ-honoring behaviors that will serve them in any path they take. Pick just a couple to focus on.

Aim for Memorable

Memorable is more effective than complete. A short, repeatable phrase is better than a long list. Keep it simple so it sticks.

Aim with Consistency

My father often says, ‘Repetition is the key to learning’. Say it all the time and especially at key moments. 

Aim Yourself First

Dr. Tim Elmore, an expert on emerging generations, says authenticity is the most often-cited characteristic that young people want to see in adults. The vision you live in front of your children will always speak louder than the words you say.

At Indian Rocks Christian School, we take this vision-casting seriously. Our Portrait of a Graduate was designed with this very purpose: to raise up students with sound minds, servant hearts, and skilled hands. It is our prayer to be a faithful partner with you as, together, we aim your children toward God’s calling on their lives.

God bless & Go Eagles!