Family Matters

CORE PRACTICE #48: Treat your kids’ sports and other activities as being just as important as anything else on your family calendar.

Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

—Psalm 127:1-2

Lauren

In our kitchen, not far from our master calendar, hangs what we call our family prayer board. This whiteboard is a place for every member of our family to write down their prayer concerns and requests. We often date each comment—and sometimes even add a brief note about how the prayer was answered. In the midst of reminders to pray for family health issues and travel concerns, our kids write down requests like, “Pray for me. I’m going to try out for the track team.”

This is just one of the tools Tony and I use to teach our kids about the importance and power of prayer. It also reminds them that their activities and concerns are just as important to us as our own.

Over the years, Tony and I have learned the importance of guarding our priorities—including those of our kids. We talk about them with our family a great deal. We also commit them to God in prayer before less important activities become “urgent.” The reality, like it or not, is that we tend to do a better job at honoring our commitments when we write them on our calendar. So it follows that we should make sure we schedule those more important priorities of our lives.

The number one priority for each of us should be the Lord—following Him, spending time with Him, seeking His will. Number two should be our spouse and number three, our children. All the other activities of life fall somewhere below.

That’s why, whenever our children have concerts, school functions, or athletic events, Tony and I want them to see our faces in the stands or in the auditorium. Whether they win or lose, perform well or not, our presence tells them plainly and simply, without words, that we love and care for them and that they are important.

So when our son Eric played football at the University of Oregon, the Ducks’ fall football games became family events for us. We all have traveled cross-country to watch Eric play, and we knew that he appreciated the support of the whole family.

We have made similar commitments and sacrifices to be at Jordan’s field trips, Jade’s sixth grade track meets, Justin’s T-ball games, and Jason’s five-and-under soccer games. We want our kids to know that their events are worthy of our prayer and attendance—and just as important as supporting Dad when he coached at the Super Bowl.

Adventure Application: What can you do this week to let your kids know that their activities matter as much to you as your own?