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Relationship Topics
How to Use Parenting Moments
Some time ago, I had begun thinking that being a good dad was taking my kids on
big vacations, buying them big presents, and giving them big amounts of my time.
Finally I realized that you don’t need bigger amounts of time to make your
kids happy — you just need to use what time you have better. Besides, the
big chunks of available time never show up.
The Bible says that he who is faithful in the small things will be made ruler
over the big things (Matthew 25:21). This doesn’t necessarily mean that
you’ll graduate to bigger responsibilities and blessings if you do the
small ones well. It can simply mean that if you take care of the small things,
the big things will take care of themselves.
The most important and effective parenting skill I ever learned
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This principle works in every area of our lives, from housekeeping to finances
and from our careers to our parenting. The old saying “If you look after
the pennies, the dollars will take care of themselves” is so true. I stopped
looking for big chunks of time to use to become a better dad and started to
use the pennies — or the minutes — that I had. This turned out to
be the most important and effective parenting skill I ever learned, and it’s
made a huge difference in my relationship with my children. In being faithful
with all the small opportunities to be a good dad, I’m being made ruler
over the big task of being a parent.
Here are a few simple suggestions that will help you become a better steward
of your parenting moments. Just start using your minutes well, and the huge
job of being a parent will start taking care of itself.
• Bring a Smile
• As You Wish
• Happy Histories
— Rick Osborne
Adapted from Parenting at the Speed of Life by Rick Osborne.
Copyright © 2004 by Focus on the Family and Rick Osborne.
A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers.
All rights reserved.
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