The City
Parenting during the "In-Between"
By Kevin Bowman in Apex Family Ministry
8 months ago | 286 views
Link: http://bit.ly/mV1nib
Parenting during the “In-Between”
Halfway through Summer, and many families have arrived at a point where:
- The End of the School Year excitement is long gone.
- Spring and Summer Sports seasons are ending or transitioning to the next one.
- Vacations, Camps and Mission Trips have, or will soon to take place.
- It’s TOO early to think about school starting again . . .
This leaves all of us at a bit of an “In-Between” place, a place that will free up space on your fridge and a night on your schedule. For some households this may generate this question, “What do we do now?” The answer to that question may include projects around the house, a visit to a friend or relative, or maybe down time with a book you started but never finished. Simply put, things you now have time for . . . But what to do?
William Penn offered this, “Time is what we want most, but alas, use worst”
I will humbly submit that there is a teaching opportunity during these “In-Between” times, and here are a few of the things we could be teaching our children during this time:
1. The Activities that they participate in, do not define who they are in God’s eyes.
2. The Relationships we build with others should include more just the people on my team or in my club.
3. The Schedule we keep, does indicate what things we deem to be important.
4. We the Parents need to keep things like this in mind as they live for Jesus in front of their Children.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 provides sound advice and guidance to parents when attempting to maximize their use of “In-Between” time. Especially time that might seem more like some to endure and wait out, as opposed to something to be embraced and properly used for God’s glory. Needless to say, to God, all time is valuable.
A word about verse one, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”. We can provide insight to our children to help them consider the impact of how they spend their time. Solomon is letting us know that every matter or activity of man (deliberate willful acts if you will) reflects our desires. And that we are accountable for our actions. Solomon follows up with a short list of things that have a place and duration in our lives.
My challenge to all parents is to teach and train your children to understand that all time, including the “In-Between” time, is time that is “spent” – how well it is spent, depends on us!
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Comments
Randy Stout
Awesome and Thanks! Randy Stout
Holly Pyles
Thanks for your thoughts Kevin – I am sharing with my teens!
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