I want to comment this morning about something that is very important to me. The subject that I write about is my time.
Paul told the Ephesians: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Time is something that we can’t get back. We have to make decisions about what we are to do with our time. Who gets your time? How much time do you spend with God? How much time do you spend with your spouse? How much time do you spend with your children?
In my list of priorities, time with God and my wife are at the top of my list. But, since this is a parenting blog I want to focus on the time we spend with our kids.
Have you ever looked at your schedule to see how much time is spent with your kids? I ask the parents who attend my parenting classes to chart their days for me. I want them to look at their calendars and see how much time is spent day to day with their children. The typical parent is lucky to get 30 minutes a day with the child. Now tell me, how are you going to be the influence that God wants you to be in 30 minutes a day? Christians look at the statistics being put out. 80% of your converts will be under the age of 18. 70% of those converts will leave the church after graduating high school. I would love to see these stats change. I think that if they are to change then the parents have to get more involved. We need to be a bigger influence in the lives of our children.
If we want to pass along our faith and values, then we have to spend more time with our children sharing those things. Remember you will reap what you sow. If your faith and love is important to you, and you want to see these attributes in your children, then you must sow them in. If faithfulness to the church is important to you, then you must pass this along to your children. Don’t send your kid to church activities. Go with them. Be involved.
There are no do-overs in parenting. You only get to do it once. You must make wise decisions with your time. After my children are grown, I want to be able to look back and say that I did it right.
