Post by Darlene Aiken
Seems like yesterday that we were accepting invitations to college and high school graduations, preparing for the Memorial Day cookout, deciding what would be on the agenda for the Fourth of July, and now when I turn on the television, I see back-to-school commercials already!!! WOW!!! Where does the time go?
If you have been thinking this, join the club, you’re not alone. The days seem to just fly by so quickly. As the summer begins to leave, take this time to reflect with your family. Come up with three things as individuals that you would like to do better in your walk with God. Once each person has come up with his or her three things, place each into a hat and have the family choose one thing for each person and those will be the new family goals. This will help with keeping one another together when one begins to fall to the wayside – which is human, by the way.
Also, this allows for accountability because we all need someone to hold us accountable, but also, since everyone was included in the decision-making it does not feel as if someone else is trying to get you to subscribe to their cause while your beliefs and goals fall to the wayside. Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Please keep in mind, this does not give individual family members the right to exercise harsh sanctions against one another (unless of course it’s a parent who sees fit to implement punishment, restriction, etc.), but its purpose is to provide like-minded support 1 Timothy 5:8 – But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he had denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Parents, not only will this help the entire family, but especially as it pertains to your children. What you may eventually observe is your children’s selection of different friends. Many times what happens is as children grow and mature they begin to form new alliances anyway, but now, moving in a spiritual motion, those who are not interested in Godly activities and conversations will remove themselves from your children’s circle. There may be times when your child might feel lonely or isolated for a period. This is the time you make certain to keep them busy with Christian activities that are wholesome and fun 1 Corinthians 13:7 – Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Parenting is the hardest job you’ll ever have, but it can also be the most rewarding job you will ever have, done God’s way.
