By Dn Timothy Yeo
Recently, while with my 2 children one evening in the midst of their pre-sleep routine, I caught myself engrossed on my phone and had repeatedly neglected their calls to join them to play. This bad habit known as ‘Phubbing’, or phone snubbing (ignoring someone in favor of paying attention to your phone) was an action that I had told myself I would never do with my children and yet here I was blatantly side-lining them for a chance to catch the latest news. Filled with remorse, I apologized to both of them, threw my phone onto my bed and went back to their room to return their father back to them.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
That episode was a firm reminder that my role as a father was to be present for my children as they were a gift from God and also served as a wake-up call to my responsibility of teaching them about His commandments. I realized that while I have been serving Him in church, I have not taken as much effort to explain to them why I do so – that is in gratitude for His saving Grace and love as well as the numerous blessings He has provided.
As we observe the children dedications this weekend with the proud parents and adorable children, have you considered who your children and spiritual children are? Think about the people in church, your workplace or even your social circles who look up to you as their spiritual role-model. They are worthy of your time, presence and influence since God has placed them around you.
When you sit or take walks with them, does God fill your conversation and shape the stories that you share so as to build them up? Your actions should reflect His great and abundant love while bringing hope. Your words should be filled with praise for the many things that He has done for you. His commandments should be the last thing on our hearts & minds before we sleep and the first when we arise.
Whether we realize it or not, our children and spiritual children look to us as front-runners on the faith journey. We owe it to them to live exemplary lives in His likeness as well as to honor the titans who have come before and inspired us in each of our lives!