Twelve of the saddest things to happen in the life of any family are when…
- Parents become emotionally and spiritually absent
- Bedtimes take place without affectionate words or hugs
- Meals go without prayers
- ‘I love you’s’ are seldom spoken
- Criticism is more common than praise
- Complaining takes the place of gratitude
- The television gets more attention than family members
- Parents fight more than they flirt in front of their kids
- Dust collects around the family Bible
- Church attendance becomes a matter of convenience rather than conviction
- Random acts of kindness are a rarity
- Jesus’ name is seldom mentioned in daily life (at least not in the right kind of way)
But… Imagine for a moment the positive power and potential for our families if all of the above things were reversed. How wonderful a place could our families be?
What if?…
- Parents become emotionally and spiritually engaged
- Bedtimes abound with affectionate words and hugs
- Meals are always started with prayers
- ‘I love you’s’ are frequently spoken
- Criticism gets drowned out by praise
- Complaining takes a backseat to gratitude
- Family members get more attention than the television
- Parents flirt more than they fight in front of their kids
- Everyone gathers around the family Bible
- Church attendance becomes a matter of conviction rather than convenience
- Random acts of kindness are the norm
- Jesus’ name is regularly mentioned in daily life
How much could your family change if you got a bit more intentional? Which list best describes your family, and how are you personally contributing to either one?
- If you’re serious about becoming more intentional as a parent, you need to get my Free Intentional Family Game Plan.
