God has filled each one of us “… with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills…” Exodus 35: 31. 

Once upon a time… this phrase gets the attention of all, young and old. But does it now?
As children, we all grew up listening to stories from our grandparents and parents, teachers, and elders. It used to be so much fun. As we heard them we used to create those scenes in our minds as described to us in great detail. In our minds, we became one with the plot. Each one creates our own image of one story told to us. What an overflow of ideas and remarkable creativity!

Jesus spoke in parables

Jesus spoke in parables and the Bible says that the people were amazed at His teaching. The way Jesus explained things captivated the attention of the people for hours. Jesus’ parables helped the people relate to their daily life. The parables encouraged people to think, make decisions, and analyze. He spoke in a way that activated their grey cells. Above all, it was personal communication.

Who doesn’t like to hear stories, then how much more children?

Creativity robbed!

When was the last time our children heard these words, once upon time…?

Storytelling today is replaced with digital media telling stories to our children. Because we don’t want to be disturbed, the easy way out is to hand over a gadget into their hands and work is done. When children throw tantrums during meal times, we give them a gadget that distracts them. Life becomes easier and quicker for sure but unknowingly this habit is slowly robbing our children’s God-gifted natural ability to create. Before them, are ready-made scenes and dialogues that clog their creativity from blooming and creating something of their own. Sadly and slowly our children are losing their ability to think and reason.

Screen Time

The screen time per day a child uses is increasing and seems to be moving the upward graph in the years to come. In today’s day when school is online, it is all the more important to monitor their screen time. We are getting comfortable with the fact that our children are spending hours before a screen until the time we realize that they are comfortably settled in their own unreal digital world and don’t want to be disturbed.

God’s Handiwork

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10.

It’s time we realize as parents we have the mandate to train our children in the ways of the Lord.

Our children are born to create!

They possess a mind to think, imagine, reason, and develop. God has ordained a purpose for our children which is already planned. They are tuned to take on that purpose but as they grow distractions pull them away from what they are called to do. Failure, stagnancy, and lack of progress are not because they have a deficiency. It is because they are not trained to focus on the God-given purpose of their life.

God will not assign us if we are not equipped

God is confident of our children to do His work, to fulfil His purposes not because of what we provide them with but because He has filled them with all that is needed for their life. God has entrusted us with our children to help them unfold their God-given talents.

We should take all the benefits of the digital world and bring them to the best of our use. What is harmful to the future of our children should be eliminated from our family life.

The Bible says, ‘Train’ and training involves discipline, persistence, and consistency. We have got to learn to say ‘NO’ to our children concerning things that are taking them away from their kingdom purpose.

Even as we read this, let’s decide to spend quality time with our children. Let them experience the love of Christ as they see your walk with God daily. Don’t let anything rob you of your intimacy with your children. You and you alone have the right to have an intimate relationship with your children.

Once Upon a Time…

Let this be a phrase used every day in our family, attracting the attention of one and all. Getting us back to being a family is what God truly desires.