Family: A Tightly Woven Rope

     As a parent, we want our kids to succeed and more importantly, we want our kids to be better versions of ourselves. We want the best for our kids. That's a natural feeling shared by most, but many get misguided on what the "best" means. Best doesn't mean, the latest iPhone, a new car, or all the clothes and toys they could ever ask for. The materialistic world views all those things as the best, but God does not. So what does it mean to want the best for our kids?

     The answer is simple. Time...it is the quality time spent with our children! Family activities and traditions strengthen family bonds. Keep in mind, our kids learn from those they are around the most. If we want them to grow up being a better version of us, then we have to spend quality time do so. 

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it" - Proverbs 22:6

     Family is like a rope, where each member is an individual thread. When separated, those threads are easily weakened and break. For each activity you do as a family, all those individual threads will begin to weave together, loop over loop, twist after twist, forming an unbreakable bond. Every day, each thread continues to grow with time. In times of inactively, the threads fray and which can snag when pulled by life events. That's why we need to keep the rope tightly woven at all times to withstand life's tug of wars. The result of such, creates a tight fitting knot at the end of the rope, so when its time to leave this earth, we know for certain, we didn't leave with any loose ends.

     In my personal life, its not the things that were bought that I will remember most. Its the time spent with family and friends growing up. It is all the visits to my Grandmother's house playing the Clue board game and holiday celebrations. Its the fishing trips, guitar songs and camp fires with my father. Its all the times dancing while standing on her feet, the beautiful songs she would sing,  and cooking with my mother. The family walks through the woods or all the rides we took together on the motorcycles and four wheelers. When it comes to video games, I don't remember much about the times I played the solo campaigns, but I am filled with the great memories of multiplayer battles with my best friends. All these wonderful memories weren't just fun times, they were experiences to open up to each other, to learn life lessons, to pray and worship God together...all things that will last a lifetime.

     Now that I am older and a parent of two of God's future warriors, my wife and I are actively creating family activities. Every Saturday night is movie night. Family day is every Sunday consisting of family activities such as church, going to the park, swimming, the zoo, movie theater, playing with toys in the playroom, etc and it lasts all day. Every meal is a family meal at the table together. This is not just for immediate family, but works for extended family as well, such as grandparents, uncles/aunts, cousins, and friends. 

     Start weaving that family rope today and strengthen it to withstand all of life's event because God warns us, there will be storms in our life's journey. To get you started, here are some ideas of great family activities. Remember, choose something everyone will enjoy and use these moments to build character and teach the Word of God.

Family Activities (a no phone rule works in all categories here): 

• Weekly Movie night
• Volunteer together to demonstrate the importance of giving
• Play sports: football, tennis, basketball, golf, etc.
• Play video games with them
• Cook/bake together
• Eat Dinner at the kitchen table
• Weekly Game night
• Worship together, church, pray
• Picnics
• Family Day/Night Out: movie theater, theater plays, restaurants, theme parks, etc
• Canoe/Kayaking
• Swimming
• Fishing
• Walks or bike riding
• Arts and Craft Projects (build legos, toy models, or bigger things like a tree house)
• Vacations

Want to talk with us, message us in the comments below! We Love hearing from our readers!

Click here to submit a Prayer Request!

Ken is a blogger at Christian Pals Blog. He enjoys anything creative and playing golf.

Proud father, husband, and servant of God.

If you enjoy reading the Christian Pals Blog, click "subscribe" at the top of the screen so you can receive an email alert for every new posting! You can also click "follow" on the right side at the home page.

Visit and subscribe on our instagram page @christianpalsblog