How to be a better parent?

As parents, my wife and I often get sidetracked from one of our most important ministries-our family!
We often get so busy being parents that we don’t get to be parents! Yes, I just said that! Sounds crazy doesn’t it. What I mean by this statement is we get so busy doing laundry, driving to soccer practice, working on homework, making school lunches, and everything else that comes with being a typical parent that we miss out on the best part and our greatest calling.
The best part and our greatest calling is our intentional investment in our kids lives. There is nothing wrong with all the above activities. They are a part of life, but they cannot be our life.
So how can we invest in our kids? Here are a few suggestions.
1. Spend time face to face talking and listening; mostly asking questions and listening to answers. Let them talk. We talk enough already.
2. Take them out one on one. This goes for your kids and for your spouse. Everyone needs one on one time that seems special not just because you have an extra 10 minutes to fill.
3. Share your mistakes and laugh about them. Let your kids know how you messed up and what you learned from it. It will teach them how to learn from their mistakes too.
4. Share what God is teaching you. Tell them the neat stuff God is doing in your life; what he is teaching you and how he is using you.
5. Talk about ministry opportunities you took advantage of. Did you help someone in the office? Did you mow your neighbors yard? Did you meet a new friend? What door did you walk through that gave you a chance to make a difference in someone’s life?
6. Bless them! Pray over them! Pray with them! Quote Numbers 6:24-26 to them daily. Eventually they will remind you if you forget.

These are some interesting suggestions. Suggestions I need to be more consistent with in my life as well. It is not easy, but in the long run worth it!
Don’t miss out on being a parent because you are too busy being a parent!

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