Intentional. Done on purpose; deliberate.
When we are wanting to deepen the connection with our children, we need to be intentional about the quality of effort and time spent on that. There are many ways to connect with our kids spiritually, physically and emotionally.
Pray for them. We can and should pray beyond our current needs. Pray for your child to grow in his/her faith; to be obedient; for their friends; their teachers; their future spouse; your future grandchildren; for God to use whatever means necessary for their salvation; to protect them from your failures as a parent. There’s no limit to His promises. Think about ways you can ensure you take time to pray for your children daily. The beautiful thing about prayer is that God hears us.
One-on-one time. In the midst of life’s busyness, it’s easy to blindly shuffle priorities. Plan a date with your kids for tonight, tomorrow – several times a week! Do a puzzle; read a few books; go for a walk; play balloon volleyball; build a fort and have a picnic in that fort; create an obstacle course with couch cushions; bake cookies… There’s lots of fun things to do without even leaving the house. Undivided positive attention is good for the whole family!
Unplug and connect. One of the main reasons to put the phone down a little more often is that children feel unimportant when they have to compete with the attention of their parent’s smartphones. Spending less time on smartphones and more time playing with your child early on reaps great rewards in the years ahead, not limited to brain development, communication skills and social skills.
Being intentional means to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling to you. It means you make thoughtful choices in your life; it means you actively interact and engage with your life, your relationships, your children.
“The greatest contribution to the kingdom of God might not be something you do, but someone you raise.” – Andy Stanley
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