I have four daughters and each of them is SO VERY uniquely different from the other. Their differences amaze — and at times — frustrate me! How easy it would be to bundle them up into a neatly wrapped package and parent them each the same cookie cutter way.

But no.

God didn’t intend for us to parent our children the same. Just as we — as people and adults — are uniquely different, so are our children.

My girls will often accuse me of talk about me having a favorite. They think they see one of their sisters getting better treatment. But the truth is, I know each of them as individuals. I’ve made — and will continue to make — it my goal to look into their hearts, not their outward appearance, and really understand who they are and who God created them to be.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

If we’re supposed to be men and women after God’s own heart … shouldn’t we also be parents after God’s own heart? <- click to tweet this

When my girls behave or react to a situation, I need to understand, whether it’s good or bad, there’s a reason behind what they’re doing. And to also understand they’re each going to react to a situation differently.

They each need something inherently unique than the other. What one child can endure, or I can use as a situation to help them grow stronger, would crush another child and so I may need to shelter her from that very same situation.

Although my girls may not fully understand it now … when they think I have a favorite, I gently {and truthfully} let them know … YOU are my favorite Taylor; YOU are my favorite Piper; YOU are my favorite Wynter; and YOU are my favorite Hunter. God has created each of you uniquely different and the distinct characteristics and qualities He’s breathed into you, make you my favorite YOU.