Practical Help for Discipling Your Kids by Chris and Melissa Swainサンプル

# Connection Sometimes it’s hard to connect with our kids. And to be honest, we can depend on an event or specific moment we’ve planned to provide a connection with our children that they may never remember. That’s not to say we shouldn’t plan special things, but we should focus more on connecting with their heart on a regular basis rather than hoping for it to happen during special events. They may forget the moment, but they will never forget the heart-to-heart connection we make with them. Jesus connected with the woman at the well because he truly cared for her. He chose to invest and be present with her at a time when that was not the norm. He didn’t let that keep Him from spending time with her like she was the only person He had to talk to that day. She knew Jesus cared and was astonished that he would not only take the time to talk with her, but also to truly know her. Do your kids know you care? I mean, do they really know you care? Or do they think you’re indifferent? Unreliable? Irrelevant? Disengaged? No one wants to be described like that, but in reality, we all could fit those descriptions sometimes. Parenting is hard and tiring, and sometimes we just run out of steam. But if we are not intentional with our children, they’ll find connection somewhere else. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus connecting with people. Jesus didn’t shy away from hurting people, and he didn’t think he was too good to eat with sinners and tax collectors. He also understood what people were going through because he was human himself and engaged people with his full attention. Whew… that’s a lot. But to put it simply, he cared, and people knew it. We must actively engage with our kids on a regular basis in order to build the connection we all so desperately need. Ask your kids about their favorite thing to do with you. It might surprise you. Plan an intentional time to connect with them over the next couple of weeks as your schedule allows. Quote Connection with your kids is a result of active engagement on your part.