It’s altogether too easy to get caught up in the everyday chores of housekeeping, cooking, mending and other tasks, and lose sight of the things that really matter. After our fourth child was born and we moved to a bigger house that would accommodate us all, I came to the realization one day that the only things I was saying to my children were “Do this!” or “Don’t do that!” We were no longer sitting down together to read stories and sing choruses as we had done in the small house we lived in previously. I had become too busy.
I cried to the Lord about it. The chores still needed to be done, but the children needed love and individual attention. I began to delegate simple chores to the three older children and tried to liberally reward them with praise when they did them well. I also put up an alphabet of verses on the playroom wall:
C—“Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
For each verse they could say with its reference, they won one miniature marshmallow or one chocolate chip. Soon they were running to me every few minutes to ask what certain letters spelled or to say a memorized verse. The constant distractions were difficult but worthwhile. Now we had a lively mutual interest, and they were hiding precious little bits of God’s Word in their hearts.
As the children began to handle their chores more efficiently, we found more time at the end of the day for reading stories. This provided many happy times as we sat cuddled up close together on the couch with the children eagerly listening to a Bible story or a book that was honoring to the Lord. The Lord had given a way to accomplish needed tasks and still provide nurture and joy in His Word.