Halting the Hurry

Another day of school! And schedules! So, hurry, hurry, hurry!

But “children don’t hurry well,” said one family counselor. The faster you need them to move, the more the preschooler gets distracted. Frustration hangs over us like a storm cloud when kids get in the way of our schedules—our productivity.

Our culture values our days—our lives—by what we can do. Got the to-do list done? It was a good day. Didn’t check off a single thing? Ugh. “What do you do?” we ask each other. And when we say, “how are you?” the proper response is, “busy!” because being busy proves you are important. You have a job to do.

But the Lord calls us out of all that. He values us based on who we are, not what we do. He offers—even commands—rest.

It is useless to get up early

and stay up late

in order to earn a living.

God takes care of his own,

even while they sleep.

Psalm 127:2 (CEV)

Of course, children need to obey their parents, focus and learn to follow simple daily schedules. But they can also be God’s reminder to us that there is more to life than hurrying through it. So stop and look at the caterpillar with them. After the many months of quarantine during the global pandemic, choose carefully how you refill your schedules after the summer days. Look for ways to reinforce your child’s worth for who they are, not just what they do.

PRAY

God of time, thank you for rest. Help me to show my children what is truly important. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What stresses you out? What makes you happy?

Apply: Think of something you’ve meant to do but have been too busy to do. That day in the park? Or the afternoon reading on the hammock? Now’s the time to make it happen! Ask your kids for ideas of things they would like to do. Brainstorming together will help you build a list of ways to find rest as a family.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Exodus 20:8

Matthew 11:28-30