Time

You already know this.  You know this not only from your childhood but probably intuitively.  The greatest gift you can give your kids this Christmas and in fact at any time is extended time with them.  They want to be around you.  They need to be around you.  As we have seen in Deuteronomy 6:6 – 7, 20, they are supposed to learn the scriptures during that time with you.  But that is not all that they learn.  They learn how to live.  They learn how to talk.  They learn how to deal with difficult people.  They learn how you handle all of the situations you deal with on a daily basis.  They learn that only if they are with you.  If not they will learn that from others who do not have your last name or values.

Our kids are our disciples, our most important disciples.  In Mark 3:12 – 13, we read that Christ appointed the 12 first to be with Him, then to be sent out.  That is the same pattern we experience in our families.  Problem is, as you know, we have an enemy that does everything that he can to destroy that pattern.  He suggests through every means available that providing for our families is much more important than actually being with them.  That quality time in nano doses is as good as time just being there.  Or that presents are a substitute for presence.

If that did not work for the Lord it probably will not work for us.

One quick caveat, do not think that because I wrote this that I have got all of this figured out or do not struggle with these issues myself.  I am on this journey with you fighting the same battles.