A Great Need For “Real” Conversation
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWhile growing up on a farm back in the 1940’s, I experienced similar times to Wendell Ingram, who wrote the following article entitled, “High Profit Pecan Trees.” As Mr. Ingram states in his good article regarding conversing with our family:
“It seems to me that this is something that is missing in families today, the opportunity to talk.“
He observes that:
“When we are at home the TV is on. When we are in our cars the radio is playing. When we are working in the yard the lawn mower or the weed eater is running. When we are doing the housework, it is the vacuum cleaner, washing machine or dishwasher. Our modern world of industry and technology has given us machinery and appliances that can do just about ever menial task that was once done by hand. But what has this luxury cost us? As wonderful as these appliances are, have they robbed us of the opportunities to talk to our children?“
Like Mr. Ingram talks about in his above article, my family didn’t have any of the modern “conveniences” or so-called “labor-saving” devices that we have today. Most everything was done by hand and it was indeed hard work. It seems that the more technology our country develops, the less one-on-one conversation takes place with our spouses and children. We’re always seemingly “too busy” playing with our digital “toys.”
Brethren and friends, we have a great need in our society today for some “real” conversation.
For just a couple of hours each day of the week, why don’t we as men, and as head of our family, “turn off” our TV’s, VCR’s, computers, cell phones, and any other digital device that would distract from conversing with our family, and “turn on” a reading and study of the holy inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV) with them (Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Deuteronomy 11:18-21; cf. Psalm 78:1-8).
And a little prayer time wouldn’t hurt either (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Acts 12:5 cf. Psalm 55:16-17).
We’ll be surprised what a closer relationship we’ll have with our family when we delve into God’s word and make spiritual application of it in our lives and in the lives of our family.