Family Time?

As we try to do at least once a week, my husband and I and all the kids spent some family time together last night. The Lord provided us with a seasonal creek toward the back of our property and a hefty rain storm last night, so we all went down to the “swimming hole” for a dip. (You can do that here in Texas in April!) Though the air was warm, the water was cold, and so when the little ones began turning blue, we figured we’d better go back up to the house.

After we all got dry, dressed, and back to “normal,” we went out for a bite to eat. Our family of 9 can eat fairly inexpensively at most of the fast food places in town, so we decided to go to the chicken place. Unfortunately, the chicken place had a movie playing on the TV! I didn’t see quite what was going on on the screen, but my husband decided (and I’m glad) that we didn’t need to be treated to the latest in murder, argument, and mockery, so we went to another place. Thankfully, we were able to find another chicken place in town that did NOT have a TV, and so were able to have an enjoyable family time.

It got me to wondering, though. Don’t people watch enough TV in their homes? There was a day when people went out to eat to enjoy each others’ company, not simply feed their face. How could they possibly communicate when there’s a shooting going on??

There must be something seriously wrong with America. People are not talking to each other. No longer do they go out to enjoy each others’ company. They simply eat their meal and go home – together, but separately. Oh, how sad!

Though I find the television creeping more and more into our daily lives (Walmart, restaurants, etc.) I do not find it to be a good thing – a thing improving our quality of life. It breaks my heart to see America slowly sliding down the slippery slope of debauchery, but we need to take it back – one home at a time.

How? Dare to be different! Communicate! Dare to express your love! Look your little ones right in the eyes and smile deep into their souls. Tousle their heads as they walk by. Look at your husband and smile like he just got off the plane from Iraq. Oh, how different our world could be – starting with your home – one home at a time.