“It takes time to build relationships with your kids.”

A thought by Zig Ziglar (2003-01-01) from his book, Zig Ziglar's Life Lifters (p. 95). B&H Publishing. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

And time is so important to them. As Zig says, “Parents must take time and get more involved with their children. For a child, love is spelled T - I - M - E.”

Time is important. He also says, “A recent study by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) found that parents are the keys to keeping their kids off drugs. However, they point out that just having mom and dad around is not the solution within itself, but what mom and/or dad do is important. That importance is dramatically increased when both mom and dad take time to build relationships with their teenagers.”

He goes on,” It begins with loving them unconditionally—not because they are handsome or beautiful, not because they are obedient, etc. Any time you put a condition on your love, you are raising a child who is insecure. Insecure kids typically seek the wrong company and get involved in destructive activities. It takes time to build relationships with your kids. They need to know that your conversational door is always open to them.”

He goes on, “The survey showed that teens are far more likely to talk to mom than to dad. Fathers, take time to build relationships with your children. Less TV time and more talking and listening are critical. Eating together makes a huge difference. Even two or three meals a week together will substantially curtail drug use, sexual activity, and violent acts.”

He then shares, “Other research indicates that if we start the day with our children properly and end the day properly, the time in between will go better. Getting up just ten minutes earlier and slowly and lovingly awakening the children is infinitely better than the last-minute routines that involve fast (or no) breakfasts, short tempers, and the stress and anxiety that accompany a rushing household. Those extra minutes give the family a more leisurely breakfast and time to be kind and affectionate with one another. At bedtime you turn the TV off and listen to countless ridiculous questions, designed primarily to delay bedtime. After a few minutes of silliness the frivolous talk generally ends. That's when your child reveals what is on his or her heart and bonding takes place.”

Some very good thoughts on a very important subject.

So how much quality time do you spend with your kids?

Comments

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book, Winning the War on Worry (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...

“There’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.”

A thought by Bob Goff from his book, Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People ( p. 41). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Have you ever built a sand castle or maybe a Lego castle? Have you? Bob says, “We actually build castles all the time, out of our jobs and our families and the things we’ve purchased. Sometimes we even make them out of each other. Some of these castles are impressive too. Lots of people come to admire what we’ve built over the course of our lives and tell us what great castles we have. But Jesus told His friends we weren’t supposed to spend our lives building castles. He said He wanted us to build a kingdom, and there’s a big difference between building a castle and building a kingdom.” Bob goes on, “You see, castles have moats to keep creepy people out, but kingdoms have bridges to let everyone in. Castles have dungeons for people who ha...

Just Continue That Thought...

Search This Blog