| We as individuals and families are not ignorant to | | | | looks at and participates in this filth will slowly and |
| the cultural temptations and influences each of us | | | | eventually realize that he will not only destroy his |
| face. Let's be honest - none of us individually or | | | | own life - but his family as well. Use the internet |
| as families are perfect, but we all can change, | | | | and computer for good, and make a resolve to |
| improve, and discipline ourselves more. And we | | | | turn them off more and spend more time with |
| must! I have personally found, as I am sure many | | | | family. |
| have, that in the limited precious time of each | | | | 7. Teach the Value of Work: When was the last |
| day, my decisions (good or bad) determine and | | | | time you and your family went outside and did |
| demonstrate my priorities. | | | | some yard work together? Do the kids help with |
| And can we not all agree that while we each | | | | the house cleaning or dishes? What chores do the |
| have priorities such as work, school, community, | | | | kids have, and do they have to make their bed |
| church, recreation, and personal activities - nothing | | | | or clean their rooms? The reality is that |
| is more important than the home and the family! | | | | participating in such activities not only helps |
| No matter what success, degree, or award we | | | | children develop good habits and certainly |
| attain in this life, it will certainly be meaningless if | | | | prepares them for the reality of 'work' in the real |
| we have eventually failed in our own homes. | | | | world, but it allows family to be together and |
| Thus, the question is - what am I personally doing | | | | spend time with each other. |
| (or not doing) in regards to my family that I can | | | | 8. Do Not Buy Them Everything - Teach the |
| improve upon today? The list is endless; however, | | | | Value of Going Without: Despite the me-oriented |
| allow me to suggest 10 simple things that we | | | | society we live in, perhaps the greatest thing you |
| must change and do immediately - so that when | | | | can do for your child is to teach them the value |
| all is said and done - our families will not only have | | | | of going without, sacrificing, and learning to share |
| been the priority, but they will not have been | | | | give. This does not mean we can not buy our |
| influenced and shaped by the negative impact and | | | | children nice (and even fun) things; but what it |
| influence of the worldly culture that so tempts us | | | | does mean is that whether we have the money |
| every day. | | | | or not, we need to teach them to go without |
| | | | occasionally, to work for what they want, and |
| 1. Turn off the TV More: I know that all of us are | | | | that sacrifice and learning to share/give is far |
| tired at the end of the day and simply just want | | | | more important than getting everything they |
| to relax and turn on the TV. Like any technology, | | | | want. |
| TV can be used for such good; thus, when | | | | 9. Have a 'Family Night' at Least Twice a Month: I |
| watching TV, ensure that it is uplifting, educational, | | | | once heard that 'excuses are like feet - everyone |
| and wholesome for you and the kids. However, | | | | has them, and they stink!' Perhaps we each have |
| more importantly, lets make a resolve to turn the | | | | become guilty of using the excuse that 'I don't |
| TV off a little more and just spend more time as | | | | have time' for family. We need to make time! Go |
| a family. | | | | out to eat, go to the movies, have a game night, |
| 2. Eat a Meal Together Daily: Growing up in a | | | | go for a walk, play in the back yard, just talk, etc. |
| home with 8 children (yes 8), you can imagine all | | | | Do something, do it as a family, and do it |
| of the after-school music lessons, sporting | | | | consistently! |
| activities, playing with friends, homework, etc. that | | | | 10. Be Consistent: Perhaps more importantly than |
| each of us kids were involved in. Yet, I | | | | anything mentioned above, we need to be |
| remember eating dinner every day with my | | | | consistent doing these activities, not just this |
| parents and siblings. Did we miss a day here and | | | | week, but always. It is not enough to read this |
| there? Of course! Did it get harder the older us | | | | article and feel inspired and motivated to change |
| kids got? Obviously! But, my parents were | | | | and improve, what is important (and challenging) is |
| determined to sit together as a family every day | | | | being consistent with these activities every day |
| (even if a few kids were at an activity). Like | | | | forevermore. But if consistent is our effort, and |
| anything in life - when we commit to something, | | | | we make time for our families, we will be |
| persist and make it happen - good things will | | | | extremely grateful when all is said and done! |
| result, even if those results don't become evident | | | | Never forget that success in life must not be |
| until years later! Use meal times to talk, listen, | | | | determined by the degrees obtained, institutions |
| laugh, plan, communicate, and love. | | | | attended, awards won, career achievements, or |
| 3. Say I Love You Daily: This incredibly important | | | | wealth acquired. Real success in life should only be |
| advice applies to both your children and your | | | | determined by who we become, the attributes |
| spouse (if applicable). Remember, however, that | | | | we obtain, the kindness we show, the goodness |
| love is an action, not just a word or simply a | | | | we radiate, and the unselfish service we give. |
| feeling! | | | | How does this relate to the topic/article at hand? |
| 4. Have a Daddy-Daughter or Mother-Son Date | | | | Because this same standard must be the |
| Once a Month: This 'date' does not need to be | | | | determinant of what true success is in marriage |
| fancy or expensive - all your child wants is time | | | | and family life. Success in marriage and family life |
| and attention. Why is it so important to do this, | | | | actually has nothing to do with worldly |
| and to do it consistently? Not only to build a | | | | achievements, possessions obtained, or even the |
| friendship and relationship with your child, but to | | | | accomplishments of our spouse or children. |
| ensure they feel comfortable just 'talking' with | | | | Success is only determined by who we become, |
| you - so that when those challenges, temptations, | | | | the people we serve, and the attributes we |
| and questions of life come - they will come to | | | | develop. |
| you, and not their friends or the influences of the | | | | Because this principle is true, it should suggest |
| world. | | | | that success in spending time with family is not |
| 5. Read Together Each Night: As in each of the 4 | | | | usually found in attending expensive concerts, |
| items mentioned above, the actual 'reading' | | | | going on exotic vacations, owning or visiting resort |
| together is not necessarily the important thing, it | | | | properties, dining out or shopping regularly, or |
| is the fact that you are spending time together | | | | even sitting down and watching TV together. |
| each day. But, like every diet you have ever | | | | Success in spending time with family most often |
| started - you can't be committed and determined | | | | entails simple activities that mean the most; such |
| for a week or two - this must be a consistent | | | | as: having a sincere talk, going on a drive or a |
| thing every day for it to have any lasting and | | | | walk, having a family night together, playing simple |
| positive impact. | | | | and fun games, serving or working together, or |
| 6. Turn off the Computer / Internet a Little More: | | | | supporting children at their events and |
| While the internet is certainly one of the greatest | | | | performances. It is through these simple and |
| resources and tools in our lives, it also is without a | | | | meaningful activities that relationships are |
| doubt one of the greatest potential pitfalls for | | | | strengthened, memories are created, trust is |
| destroying our personal lives, marriages, and | | | | developed, support is given, laughter is enjoyed, |
| families. Without even discussing the violence of | | | | life lessons are taught, and love is felt. If this |
| video games, idle time wasted 'surfing,' useless | | | | standard of success is our goal, then dealing with |
| shows and movies we waste time on, etc. - | | | | the disappointment of certain failures will be far |
| there is an ever-increasing plague that is | | | | easier than dealing with the disappointment of |
| consuming millions of individuals (and thus, families) | | | | certain successes if later in life we realize they |
| every single year. It is pornography. A man who | | | | were not the right successes. |