A Gift We Can Freely Give

Our undivided, whole, and complete attention is a gift that we can freely give to our children anytime, anyplace; yet we so seldom do. It is one of those small and simple things that is far too easy to dismiss, but upon reflection shows itself be painfully true. Yes, painfully. Why? Because if you are anything like me, honest self evaluation will bring you to admit that far too often the times your children are interacting with you are when you are in the middle of trying to "get something done." It is so easy to think, I've got days, weeks, months or years with my child, but this needs done today. And yet, the time we fail to spend with our children is gone forever. As I think back to my childhood, while there are big events (like going to Disneyland) that stick in my mind, the events which were much more impactful on who I am, and how I feel, were the times that my mother took time to listen to something that was bothering me, or something I was excited about, or something I was dreaming of doing. Taking time to listen to a child read, or to share with them as they celebrate an accomplishment (drawing a picture, shooting a basket), or to tickle them and hug them is something that should have top billing on our personal To-Do list every day. Seeing the face a child, feeling loved and cherished, is truely seeing the face of God.