by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Ephesians 5:17
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

As the kids surrounded my car like a band of whooping Indians, screaming, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy," I was glad on this night I had made the right choice.

At supper, rather than just grazing our way through the meal, we spent a few moments on nostalgia. Each of us answered the question: What was your favorite thing we did as a family this past year?

After supper I gave the kids three choices of what we would do: Play Monopoly together, read a good book together or wrestle together on the living room floor. Which do you think they chose?

Three little sumo wrestlers grabbed my legs as they began to drag me into the living room. Dad was pinned by the kids. Mom was tickled by Dad. And kids went flying through the air (literally) for the next hour. Even our 10-month-old got into the act by pouncing on me after she had observed the other kids in action.

Will the kids remember? Maybe, but I doubt it.

Did I waste the evening? No. With the power that God supplies, I did my best to leave a legacy that counts-a legacy of love that will outlive me. I was reminded of two things. First, I thought of Paul's words in Ephesians 5, in which he reminded us to make the most of our time and to "not be foolish."

Second, I remembered my dad. He was badgered by one determined boy into playing catch over and over again. I can still remember his well-worn mitt and curve ball.

If you struggle with priorities as I do, you might want to commit to memory those verses in Ephesians. The "fool" Paul wrote about is something we never intend to become; it just happens-one day at a time.

I hope you did something of value today. And I hope you will tonight as well.

Prayer:

Ask God to give you favor as you invest your lives in one another and in your children.

Discuss: What choices do you often have to make to balance your own needs with those of your family? Do you ever resent these demands? What is one goal for family time that you want to achieve in the coming year?

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