Family Time

 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.” 1 John 1:7, KJV.

God has designed families to be one of the strongest forces to show His love and design. However, the family unit is wrought with an attack from the enemy—everyday. Even the moments that families have with one another at the dinner table has diminished, due to long work hours, bringing work home with us, the dependence on entertainment, and the lack of intention to spend quality time with one another.

Corporations, work schedules, school sports, favorite t.v shows, church activities, among a plethora of other things compete for our attention, time, and money.

My husband and I teach several Bible studies during the week. We try to work with people’s schedules and usually teach at night time, then we have prayer and mid-week services in the evenings as well. It’s so easy to go-go-go and forget that we need to sit and eat as a family unit. Sometimes, when we do get an opportunity to eat at home, we are scarfing it down, going to the next thing. Am I the only one? 

I try my best to be intentional about spending quality time with my husband and daughter, but it can be difficult. If this is your gaol, it may feel awkward at first, and you may wonder what you will talk about at the dinner table, but I promise that it will get better as time goes on and conversations and laughter will flow. I desire my daughter to grow up and remember having quality, family time.

It’s peculiar how we can feel the most distant with the people who are closest to us.

Sharing the Highs and Lows

It’s difficult to survey an entire day to your loved ones, so one thing my former Pastor and his family did as a tradition at the dinner table was share a lowlight and a highlight their day.

A Lowlight

• A lowlight is the component of the day that was not-so-good; it could be that they stubbed their toe, witnessed an injustice, or maybe someone said something hurtful to them.

A Highlight

• A highlight is the best part of the day; maybe someone bought them Starbucks, they formed a new friendship, or they received an award.

This family tradition was always full of laughter, and sometimes even tears, which allowed them to grow closer with one another.

Today, I encourage you to be intentional about spending quality time with your family. My family lives in a different country and months or even a whole year will pass before I see them, but I have set days and times every week when I call my mom and dad; it’s not the same as sitting at the dinner table with them, but I’m still growing my relationship by staying connected. What can you do today to have quality time with the people you love? Maybe it will be on the way to soccer practice, or to a church event, but you can still make memories by being intentional. Let’s fight for family time.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that You would bless my family today and that You would help us grow closer with one another. Teach us what it means to be a God-centered family. I pray that You would protect them and keep them today. In Jesus name, amen.