Investing Time Wisely in the Lives of Our Children: A 3-Day Parenting Plan

Scriptures: Romans 16:19, Ephesians 5:15-16, 1 Timothy 5:8

Under the Big Top

“I want you to be wise about what is good.” (Romans 16:19) 

Josh was so excited. The day had finally arrived. After lunch, his father was taking him to the circus! Then the phone rang. As Josh listened to his father speak, his heart sank. Something about urgent business that required his father’s attention downtown. With tears in his eyes, Josh got up from the kitchen table and began walking slowly toward his room. Then he heard his father say, “No, I won’t be down. It will have to wait.” Almost in disbelief, Josh hurried back to the table and saw his mother smiling at his father. “The circus will come back, you know,” she said. “I know,” his father answered. “But childhood won’t.” 

We do have choices in how we spend our days. Yes, there are consequences if we put off an assignment at work or postpone cleaning the house. But when the alternative is taking time for your son or daughter, what is the better choice? After all, when Jesus asked two fishermen named Peter and Andrew to “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17), did they respond with, “Not now, Jesus, we have important work to do”? 

We encourage you to weigh your options carefully as you plan your schedule. Sometimes an afternoon under the big top is the best appointment of all. 

Questions for Today . . .

• Do you ever appear to value your work over the kids? 
• What is God saying to you about the amount of time you spend with your children? 
• How can you increase your time together as a family? 

Prayer . . .

O Lord of time and eternity, You know very well how fleeting is the opportunity to encourage our children. Open our eyes so that we might cherish such moments and not let them slip away. In Jesus’ name, amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Parents. Used with permission.)

Scriptures: Titus 2:4-5, Psalms 39:5, James 4:14

Just Say No

“Train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home.” (Titus 2:4–5) 

French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre once conducted an experiment with processionary caterpillars, so called because of their genetic inclination to follow one another. He lined them up around the inner edge of a flowerpot and watched them march in a circle. Then he put pine needles, their favorite food, in the center of the pot. The caterpillars continued to walk without breaking rank. Finally they rolled over and died of starvation, just inches from their ideal food source. 

Many of today’s moms are a bit like these furry little creatures. They trudge around in circles from morning until night, wondering how they can get everything done. Many are employed full-time while also taking care of families, chauffeuring kids, fixing meals, cleaning the house, and trying to maintain marriages, friendships, and spiritual obligations. It’s a breathless way of life we call “routine panic.” 

If we’ve just described your life, realize that it doesn’t have to be this way. The tendency for families to take on too many commitments is rampant these days, but it can be avoided by employing one little word: No. As the apostle Paul wrote, we are “to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12). Self-control starts with saying no to frantic living—and yes to a more orderly existence. 

Questions for Today . . .

• Are you overcommitted? What could you cut from your schedule? 
• Do you end current obligations before adding new ones? 

Prayer . . .

Save us, Father, from our addiction to constant motion and endless commitments. Grant us courage to rethink our priorities, to say no instead of yes. Lord, give us the self-control that will bring peace and rest to our family. Amen. 

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Parents. Used with permission.)

Scriptures: Proverbs 13:16, Psalms 127:3, Colossians 3:14

Quantity and Quality

“Every prudent man acts out of knowledge, but a fool exposes his folly.” (Proverbs 13:16) 

The old debate about which is best for your children, “quantity time” or “quality time,” shouldn’t be a debate at all. Your children need both. After all, when you look forward all week to an evening at your town’s finest and most expensive restaurant, you won’t be satisfied with a huge serving of steak that tastes awful. Nor will you settle for a tiny bite of the best steak ever. No, at those prices, you deserve quantity and quality! And that’s just what your kids deserve from you. 

Of course, some of us deceive ourselves. We think we’re giving our children the undivided attention they need. But you’re missing the target if you have a football game on television while you play Monopoly with the kids, or read the paper while “helping” them with homework, or drive them to the office to color while you work, or take them to one movie at the multiplex while you watch another. Sure, your kids may enjoy some of these activities, but they also know the difference between an involved parent and one who’s merely pretending. They deserve “sincere” love (Romans 12:9). 

Like the fool in the book of Proverbs, we’ll eventually expose our folly if we try to fake significant interest in the lives of our kids. Let’s be “prudent” parents and give them our best effort. 

Questions for Today . . .

• Do you ever try to substitute a few “quality” minutes for significant time with your kids? 
• Do you give the kids your full attention when you’re with them? 

Prayer . . .

Lord, thank You that even as You direct the stars and planets, You still hear our feeble cries and give us Your attention. Help us, Lord, to be like You. Help us to listen to our children, to make time for them, and to let them know in a thousand ways how much they are loved. Amen.

(Excerpted from Dr. James and Shirley Dobson’s book, Night Light for Parents. Used with permission.)