More Than One Valentine!

Now that I have your attention, I do really want to talk about your "valentines." It's really easy to think about your spouse or significant other on Valentines Day. I mean, that's the whole point right? We spend money on baby sitters, flowers, and dinner reservations. It's meant to be a special day to show how much our favorite someone means to us. I don't mean to disregard any of that. However, I do want to challenge you with a question. How often do you set aside a dedicated time (like we do for Valentine's Day) to spend with each of your kids, just the two of you? Do you know their love languages and what makes them feel special? As with all of our relationships, we can get so easily caught up in the hustle of life and before you know it, it's been two weeks (or longer) since you last sat down and all ate dinner together. That can be hard as a family. It may even be causing tension between you and your kids. Ephesians 5 talks a lot about the kind of love husbands and wives have for each other, and the beginning of Ephesians 6 talks about children honoring their parents. We're all familiar with those verses, but one that often goes unnoticed is Ephesians 6:4, which says, " Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." As parents, there are things we do and don't do that can "exasperate" our children. Finding that quality time to spend with them may begin to alleviate those tense moments in your house. My challenge to you on Valentines Day is this: You have more than one valentine. Make sure that each of them know it. Spend specific time talking to them. Do something together with them that they especially enjoy. Show each of them how special they are to you. After all, they're your valentines too.