However, another scientist figured that the atoms in the body would produce 11,400,000 kilowatts of power per pound if they could be harnessed. According to this computation, a child weighing 50 pounds would be worth $28.5 billion! (Dr. Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, 1998). Of course, to God, we are worth much more than that. He gave His own Son for us!

That's a lot of worth! Yet sometimes we neglect to value our children as much as they need to grow up with confidence and security.

As a child grows up, he or she receives a sense of value from his or her parents. How a child feels about himself or herself comes largely from those to whom he or she is around the majority of the time.

A son comes home from kindergarten. He proudly shows his parents his handiwork. The parent may take the drawing or colored page and praise the young boy for his efforts and proudly display the homework on the "fridge." This gesture will bring a smile to the boy outwardly and, more importantly, inwardly.

Take the same situation in another home. A son comes home from kindergarten and proudly shows his handiwork to his parents. If the parents merely glance at the child's work and lay the paper aside or, worse yet, throw it in the waste can, one can only imagine the hurt the little boy feels.

Young children receive their sense of worth or value from encounters with parents, teachers, relatives and friends. When they are little, they need to be valued by older, caring family members. If not, they will usually grow up and lack confidence. They are likely to not feel they are of much value. They may also act out in ways to try to surmount their upbringing.

We as parents have a great responsibility to bring our children up in a nurturing way (1 Thessalonians 2:7). It is our positive approach to our children during their early years that will help them cope when they are older.

Compliments can be effective. We need to give appreciation when it is deserved (Proverbs 3:27). We should not "flatter," because that is deceitful. However, the responsible parent will be ever on the alert to seize every opportunity to honestly praise and appreciate his or her children.

I have had the opportunity to work with students of all ages who have not been appreciated while growing up. They needed to have skills training to compensate for years of feeling bad about who they are.

David was able to say, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). He realized he had value. Paul wrote that a man would naturally "cherish" his own flesh (Ephesians 5:28-29). It was assumed by Paul that a man would properly value himself. With these few biblical examples and instruction, we can readily see that it is important for a person to feel that he or she is valued.

Please, please love your children. Value them! Look for ways to be positive about them and let them know they are appreciated for not only what they do, but for who they are.

You'll never realize how much good you will do them for the rest of their lives.

Remember, God saw enough value in each of us to give His dear Son for us (John 3:16)!