July 6
The Time
That Matters
“Start children off on the right path. And even when they are old, they will not turn away from it.”
Proverbs 22:6 (NIrV)
Dec sighed as he glanced at his watch. It was already 8:30 PM. Another long day at work, another evening of exhaustion. He stepped into the house, dropping his bag by the door. Yvette was in the kitchen, answering emails on her phone while stirring a pot of pasta. Their two kids, Max and Olivia, were sitting on the couch, watching a cartoon.
“Hey, guys,” Dec called out, forcing a smile.
“Hi, Daddy,” Olivia mumbled without looking up. Max didn’t even respond.
Yvette glanced at him. “Dinner’s almost ready. Can you help Max with his homework?”
Dec hesitated. He was tired. “In a bit,” he muttered, grabbing his phone and scrolling through work messages.
This had become their routine. They loved their kids, but between jobs, errands, and the endless to-do lists, real quality time was rare. Sure, they squeezed in moments—quick bedtime stories, rushed dinners—but deep conversations, laughter, and connection? Those felt like luxuries they couldn’t afford.
One Saturday morning, Olivia toddled into their bedroom, clutching her stuffed rabbit. “Mommy, Daddy, can we go to the park today?”
“Maybe later, sweetie,” Yvette said, checking her phone.
Olivia’s shoulders slumped. “You always say later.”
Her words stung, but Yvette brushed them off. They were providing for their kids, weren’t they? They had to work, to manage life’s demands. The kids would understand.
That afternoon, Dec overheard Max talking to Olivia. “Maybe when we’re big, Mommy and Daddy will have time for us.”
Dec’s stomach twisted. Was that how their children saw them? Too busy? Too distracted?
That night, Dec lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He thought about his own childhood—how his dad had been absent, always working, always “too busy.” He had promised himself he’d be different. Yet here he was, making the same mistakes.
He turned to Yvette. “We need to change this.”
She sighed. “I know.”
The next morning, they made a decision. Phones went off. Work could wait. They sat with their kids at breakfast, listening—really listening—to their stories. They played board games, went for a walk, and laughed until their sides hurt.
It wasn’t about grand gestures. It was about showing up, fully present. Because in the end, careers would fade, schedules would clear—but the impact they had on their children’s hearts would last a lifetime.
Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help me to cherish the time I have with my loved ones.
In the busyness of life, remind me that my presence is more valuable than any task or job.
Teach me to nurture and guide my children, so they grow up knowing love, faith, and the joy of being truly seen.
Let me never be too busy for the ones who need me most.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
