Pinterest Perfection Vs. Intentional Direction
Gone are the days where summer is associated with a slowdown. Often our schedules get so full before summer even arrives that we are left standing with our jaw on the floor the first day of school wondering where all that time went.
We start out with Pinterest-perfect intentions and cute print outs of schedules and we assure ourselves that THIS year will be different (I may or may not be speaking from experience and I may or may not have printed said schedule within in the last week) only to find that between this, that and the other thing, time got away from us and that dreamy schedule went along with it. Interruptions and other opportunities come a dime a dozen. There will always be a million things battling for your attention but there is nothing better to invest your time in than your kids!
Each family’s rhythm is different so the ways we teach our children will differ as well. Don’t let comparison to others or the desire to do more than you are able rob you of the opportunity to guide your children in the way that they should go. We are raising up our children to be light in an increasingly dark world and, my friends, that takes intentionality.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)
So, I want to give you permission to give yourself grace. Toss out the schedules and the overwhelming expectations you may have of yourself and just spend 15 intentional minutes with your kids each day to impress upon them the love Jesus has for them. This could be in the morning over cereal and devotions or reading the Bible before bed or even in the car on the way to camp.
In the moment, it’s hard to see the rewards. I can’t tell you how many times I have asked myself, “Are they even listening to me?” Then my youngest will reiterate something I said months ago or my oldest will tell me about how she handled a situation at school and I will realize God is humoring me and whispering, “Yes, my child, they are listening.”
Our children are listening. They are waiting to hear what God has put on our hearts to speak into their lives and they are waiting for us to encourage them to follow Jesus with their whole hearts.
On average, the church only gets 40 hours a week to influence our kids. We as parents have about 3,000 hours of influence. As frightening as the thought is, we hold the most impactful weight of influence in our children’s lives. We have the choice to use it, or lose it.
Now is the time to teach our kids. How will you be intentional with the time you are given?
And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. – Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Here are 3 great resources for easy conversation starters!
Weekly Take-home sheets
Horizon Families Blog
Parent Cue App
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