As I began to try and write this article, there was a soft
howl of wind that came across the living room.
I suppose I have a window cracked somewhere. Doesn’t wind like trains and Whippoorwills
have a sad call?
I was thinking this morning that if Eve did not believe in
the sacrifices Adam offered up for their sin and the forgiveness it brought she
must have had a really miserable existence.
I had on a dress that was at least 22 years old and Jon came in and asked
if I were going somewhere?
When he and Alex come to eat with us Jon always comes to the
table with Eddie and me but Alex chooses the bar to sit at and most of the time
we allow it. Sad but true mistake.
I am the Eve in our home and it is me that began the bad
example. Eddie worked shift work and
when he was home we ate at the table but more often than not we gathered around
the devil’s tool and watched Gun Smoke, or Lucy or the news while we ate. We missed the opportunity to sit and talk
with our kids and let the things come into our hearts the Lord would have us to
teach them. And the disguise was we are
having quality time together as a family around the TV. Oh! What a lie that came smoking straight up
from Hell.
With shift work Eddie was gone so much of the time and yet,
when he was home he worked and he gave the opportunity for our children to
learn a work ethic by his example. Yet
today he regrets he did not spend more time playing with the kids. However, when we had a weekend off he was
always there. I often wondered if he
didn’t miss the companion ship of other men.
But he was always home, always working, always there leading our family
to church and always by example reading
his bible every night before he went to bed no matter what time he might have
come home. And two weeks each summer he
did play with them. We took them camping
and we got a boat and skiis and Carol was the only one that never mastered the
skiis. So he did play some of the time,
and oh how I thank God he did it and still we were in God’s house where we were
suppose to be on Sundays. Weekends were
our time, Friday through Saturday night but we taught by example that Sunday
was God’s day. My example was never as
good. However I am glad God does not
measure our worth in comparison to others nor in how good we are because nobody
is good but God, even my wonderful man.
Today he can at least know he did all he could to teach them
by example. It was me that taught them
to gather round the TV and miss those really special moments when I had the
opportunity to teach them the ways God had taught me.
We can learn by others mistakes or we can vow to never make
the same ones. The reason for my little
sermon is that by my regret of my mistake, maybe someone with small children
out there can see the truth that I am trying to convey and begin a new
beginning with your children. Don’t let
TV rob you of time with them. Before you
know it they will be out on their own and you will be so dismayed when they don’t
gather round the table to talk.
Alex doesn’t want to watch my old lady shows like the
Waltons or Little House and she is only nine.
Please those of you that have little ones if you can get those reruns
start your little ones on them and let them see the good example of what family
is all about and reinforce it by letting them see it at home.
And pray for those out there that have no family life at
home. It should be a burden to us all
and we should be in prayer about it.
Truly home is where the heart is and let it be you that has
that heart for God and lead those little ones.
I assure you that few will have others that will.
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