Family Time

Family Time

In recent years there seem to have been a breakdown in families .... families sitting down to dinner, praying, sharing meals and conversation...and spending quality time together. In my home, for example, due to different work schedules and other activities, we seldom share a meal together. We are busy working, and buying more things.

I long for the ‘good ole days’ when families had time for each other, played checkers, shared jokes, watched television together or simply sat. Sure, we have more materialistically, yet aren’t we neglecting the most important things? Aren’t we neglecting the things that really matter; our family?

If we go back to Genesis, we see that the oldest of social institutions was the family. Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Genesis 4:1: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.”

Genesis 4:25,26: “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.”

Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

Joshua 24:15: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Our Responsibility

Parents, the Lord holds us responsible for the environment that we create for our children. We are responsible for their upbringing. It is important that we spend quality time with our children, and listen to what they have to say. Our children are precious, they are a gift from God.

The Bible says: “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate” Psalm 127: 3-5.

Proverbs 17:6: “Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.”

Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Children grow up so fast.... If we neglect to unite together as a family, we will miss so much; the laughter, the joy of playing, quiet moments of going to the library, Scripture reading, or a whispered prayer. Praying together as a family is very important.

Let us proclaim as Joshua did, "...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”