What is the most important thing to your family?
The other day I was visiting with a friend and she asked me, as a mother of a very young and active brood, could she pick my brain? Flattered, I consented to help however I could. "What tips do you have for me?" she asked. "What is the most important thing you have learned in raising all those kids? I mean, you've home schooled them all, and for goodness sakes, nine of them! They look like they're doing well. Let me learn from you. What is the most important thing I can do?"
Smiling inside, I realized that the old Indian saying, "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his mocassins." applied here. If she only knew all the mistakes I had made! All the things I neglected or chose badly! Ah, well. But, prayerfully considering, I tried to give her quick counsel while we carried one little body away from the curb and picked up toast for another urchin's breakfast. The two most important things we done for our children? Gosh, could there be only two? Reading and studying together were pivotal for us. Praying together made a huge impact. Singing together made many, many sweet memories. Working together, especially in the garden and on the farm, though fraught with some miserable emotion, was also essential to binding us as a family and turning out competent, hard working adults. What advise could I give?
Then it dawned on me. The most important gift I could give my children was my time. I turned to my young, aspiring friend, and said, "Always take time for your children. They will be yours for such a short time, just slow down and enjoy them." I spent too much time worrying about what others thought of my house, my yard, my children........key word,....."my".
Stop thinking about you, and relish in them. They are God's gift to you. Appreciate your gift. Thank the Giver.
Beyond that monumental attitude adjustment, our time is so short, the most important things we did together were worship and learn. I love the time we can simply sit down together, relax and explore a topic with our children. Whether it is science or scripture or both, it gets more and more fun as they get older and their reasoning abilities improve. Soon, your debates can get downright challenging! What a wonderful thing. Those "children" soon become your best friends.
With any friendship, time spent together is the key. So my counsel to my friend? Build you best friendships in your family- live, love and laugh together, enjoy that forever journey....together.
Smiling inside, I realized that the old Indian saying, "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his mocassins." applied here. If she only knew all the mistakes I had made! All the things I neglected or chose badly! Ah, well. But, prayerfully considering, I tried to give her quick counsel while we carried one little body away from the curb and picked up toast for another urchin's breakfast. The two most important things we done for our children? Gosh, could there be only two? Reading and studying together were pivotal for us. Praying together made a huge impact. Singing together made many, many sweet memories. Working together, especially in the garden and on the farm, though fraught with some miserable emotion, was also essential to binding us as a family and turning out competent, hard working adults. What advise could I give?
Then it dawned on me. The most important gift I could give my children was my time. I turned to my young, aspiring friend, and said, "Always take time for your children. They will be yours for such a short time, just slow down and enjoy them." I spent too much time worrying about what others thought of my house, my yard, my children........key word,....."my".
Stop thinking about you, and relish in them. They are God's gift to you. Appreciate your gift. Thank the Giver.
Beyond that monumental attitude adjustment, our time is so short, the most important things we did together were worship and learn. I love the time we can simply sit down together, relax and explore a topic with our children. Whether it is science or scripture or both, it gets more and more fun as they get older and their reasoning abilities improve. Soon, your debates can get downright challenging! What a wonderful thing. Those "children" soon become your best friends.
With any friendship, time spent together is the key. So my counsel to my friend? Build you best friendships in your family- live, love and laugh together, enjoy that forever journey....together.
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