"Family Matters"
By Paul Kendall
Quality Family Time
Times are changing and technology has soared to an all-time high. A common complaint around our house is for equal time on the computer. I don’t remember that being a problem when I was growing up. We didn’t even know what a computer was!
But you know… the popularity of email and instant messaging has caused - sitting down and writing a letter by hand to become a thing of the past. Sadly, something else is becoming a thing of the past; quality family time.
Television, the Internet, long bus-rides home and busy activity schedules can steal away our time together as a family. Add to that, the fact that a great majority of Mom’s work full-time jobs and daily family time is almost out of the question.
Children will develop their religious beliefs and social skills from whomever and whatever they are exposed to the most. It’s interesting, when a child gets into trouble, to hear their parent say “Well, they certainly didn’t learn that at home!” Of course they didn’t… they learned it hanging out in the mall parking lot while you were too busy to spend time with them! And the enemy of their soul knows the strategy of a seed well sown and long-term, subtle, influence.
But it’s up to us as parents to make sure they grow up to become healthy and whole and for that, there is NO SUBSTITUTION for QUALITY FAMILY TIME.
You know… the scariest thing about raising kids is that you only get one chance. And like the old saying says “They don’t come with instructions.” But God’s Word is full of wisdom and direction for parents; Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Parents, you cannot effectively “train” by substitution or from a distance. Training is a very slow, long-term process that demands quality time. A great way to start is by setting a goal to eat dinner together – as a family – at least four nights a week. And by the way, TURN OFF THE TELEVISION! The real news is sitting across the table from you.
I learn so much about my children by simply sitting at the table and asking the question “How was your day?”
Remember parents… someone is going to “train up” your children. God’s Word says… it should be YOU!
That's Family Matters... I'm Paul Kendall.
Paul Kendall is the host of the popular syndicated radio program "Family Matters" and author of a new book by the same name. Radio programs, family resources and much more are available at
www.KendallFamilyNetwork.com.
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