“Family Time” is probably the most important time of the day for families to connect and reinforce bonds. Regardless of what time of the day it occurs, its’ the most important piece to ensuring that family’s stay connected. This is key. When you don’t maintain consistent “family time,” it’s much more difficult to keep strong connections and clear communication with loved ones.
Therefore, in order to maintain strong family connections and to consistently practice “family time,” we must put deliberate thought into it. And, we must see it as a God-directed activity of which we should be compelled to act upon with a positive and cheerful attitude. The reality is that, in this busy world, we make time to schedule doctor appointments and for many other miscellaneous activities such as taking our kids to soccer practice. What I’m suggesting to you is that you should give “family time” the same value as all of your other activities that you prioritize throughout the day.
In my book, The 7 Principles of Faith-Based Parenting, I stress the importance of intentionally creating “family time.” This includes all the different units in the family network. Thus, I devote an entire section in Chapter 2 “A Family Affair” to helping the reader see the significance of “family time” as well as providing strategies for creating quality “family time.”
“Family Time,” from a Biblical perspective, is the foundation for all of us whether it’s in a traditional or non-traditional setting. It’s something much bigger than the people who live in the house. It encompasses our extended family – all of the people who love us and care for us. It’s the “village of people” who have a vested interested in our well-being. Children who are raised and cared for by foster parents is a perfect example of this.
The preservation of “family time” is an invaluable resource. It can help you overcome gaps that have been passed on from generation to generation. By talking about one’s history and knowing where one comes from, an individual can gain an understanding of something much bigger than oneself and one’s current individual family unit.
“Family Time” is a time of truth. It’s a time to communicate with your kids about whatever is going on – internally and externally. Over the years, it’s how my wife and I cultivated and instilled confidence and greater faith in our children’s pursuit of their dreams. It’s what I call “Dream Building” (an intentional way of giving “Family Energy” to the pursuit of dreams and goals). This is significant because most people don’t see the pursuit of dreams and goals as a family effort. In American culture, we too often see the accomplishment of success as an individual effort; that the individual needs to figure out how to do it themselves. This, however is not in alignment with God’s design. God’s design is that the family unit and “family time” exist as the foundation and centerpiece of everything we do in our lives.