Teach Them Diligently
By Kristi Palmer
“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7 KJV).
The Bible instructs us to always be sharing the Word of God with our children. But in this modern age of internet, extracurricular activities, and general busyness, how can we make room for daily spiritual instruction? Some days, we feel like it’s all we can do to just get everyone where they are supposed to be, when they are supposed to be there. Dad is busy working overtime “for his family” and Mom is playing chauffeur, working a job of her own, and barely keeping up with the laundry. The urgent gets all of our attention, while the important falls by the wayside.
“Discipling our children takes purposeful time and effort.”
If we want our children to grow up to be adults who love and follow Jesus, we have to give priority to talking about the things of God. Here are a few things we can do to make room for these meaningful conversations with our children.
Use bedtime as connection time.
It is often tempting to stuff our children into bed as quickly as possible, knowing that peace and quiet are just on the other side of bedtime. But don’t underestimate the openness of your child’s heart at bedtime. After the daily wind-down routine, most kids are ready to talk. Bump up bedtime by ten minutes and use that extra time to sit or lie down on your child’s bed and connect. Start by listening and ask the Lord to guide your conversation to Him.
Take your kids on dates.
We often hear how important it is to date one’s spouse. Your kids need that quality one-on-one time, too! Kid dates don’t have to be fancy or expensive. A drive to the gas station or a grocery shopping trip will do. When you can make time for it, a meal together at a fast-food restaurant will make your child feel special. The point is to carve out time on your calendar and let your child know that you have a plan for quality time with him. I promise that if you spend thirty minutes of uninterrupted time with your child, you will have plenty of chances to pour spiritual guidance into his life.
Practice Sabbath with your family.
In our hurry-sick world, we bounce from one activity to another, never stopping to rest. Why do we view this one commandment as optional? I have found that when my family blocks an entire day off to simply be together with no agenda, we all benefit. We relax together, we play, we talk. Inevitably, I end up having great conversations with my kids. Sabbath guides our thoughts towards Jesus and gives us room to breathe and reflect. It can strengthen not only your faith but also your family!
Discipling our children takes purposeful time and effort. Without a plan, it’s unlikely that we will fulfill this calling in the way we are meant to. Today, make an effort to block off some time on your calendar for meaningful connection with your children. Actually, write it down on the schedule and show your child the appointment you have created to be with her. She will remind you when it’s time to put down the phone, put off the next errand, look into her eyes, and really be present with her. And when you do, you’ll be so glad you did!