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Do Something of Value Tonight
(Part Two) (part
one)
By Dennis & Barbara Rainey, FamilyLife.com
(c) 2003 Reprinted with
Permission
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of
the Lord is. Ephesians 5:17
As the kids surrounded my car like a band of whooping
Indians, screaming, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," I was glad on
this night I had made the right choice.
At supper, rather than just grazing our way through the
meal, we spent a few moments on nostalgia. Each of us
answered the question: What was your favorite thing we did
as a family this past year?
After supper I gave the kids three choices of what we would
do: Play Monopoly together, read a good book together or
wrestle together on the living room floor. Which do you
think they chose?
Three little sumo wrestlers grabbed my legs as they began to
drag me into the living room. Dad was pinned by the kids.
Mom was tickled by Dad. And kids went flying through the air
(literally) for the next hour. Even our 10-month-old got
into the act by pouncing on me after she had observed the
other kids in action.
Will the kids remember? Maybe, but I doubt it.
Did I waste the evening? No. With the power that God
supplies, I did my best to leave a legacy that counts-a
legacy of love that will outlive me. I was reminded of two
things. First, I thought of Paul's words in Ephesians 5, in
which he reminded us to make the most of our time and to
"not be foolish."
Second, I remembered my dad. He was badgered by one
determined boy into playing catch over and over again. I can
still remember his well-worn mitt and curve ball.
If you struggle with priorities as I do, you might want to
commit to memory those verses in Ephesians. The "fool" Paul
wrote about is something we never intend to become; it just
happens-one day at a time.
I hope you did something of value today. And I hope you will
tonight as well.
Discuss: What choices do you often have to make to balance
your own needs with those of your family? Do you ever resent
these demands? What is one goal for family time that you
want to achieve in the coming year?
Pray: Ask God to give you favor as you invest your lives in
one another and in your children.
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