‘Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.’

-John 15:15

In today’s busy world, do you find time for your children to have a heart-to-heart talk?

Do you make appointments to speak with your children weekly or biweekly where everything discussed would be about them?

Recently I started to do that and I discovered that my children looked forward to it. I would pick each child and say we will have Mummy time this weekend or next weekend. As the day approaches, they would begin to remind me.

When it is time, I would sometimes lie on my children’s bed and ask them what they wanted to do. It could be for me to play a game with them, watch a movie with them or they just had something private to share with me that has been burdensome to them.

By all means, it is fulfilling for me to focus my attention on one of them per time and discover what is happening in their inner lives, what their internal struggles are and where they need help.

Children need their parents to empathize with their struggles and cheer them on in this journey of life. When we can burst through that cool and calm exterior, we will discover their real self which they do not exhibit when everyone is in the room.

Friendship with them does not mean to lower our standards or value, it means to explain the whys and the impact of their obedience in the now and future.

How can you start to make more room to spend quality time with your child today? The relationship you build will form a long-lasting life-long connection with them.

Prayer Moment

• Father, I thank you the gift of children you have given me.

• Lord, give me the grace to build friendship with my children

• Lord, help me to love them the way you want me to in Jesus name.

• Father, make me a wise parent and help me to build up and not tear down my children.

• Lord, I ask for grace to spend quality time with my children and not take them for granted in Jesus name.

• Lord, give me the grace to continually see my children as gifts and not as a burden.

• Father, teach me to treasure my children and create time for each one in Jesus name. Amen.

Think Over it

What is God saying to me today?