I was recently interviewed for my church’s podcast. In that interview I was asked what routines I look back on as being important. It caused me to reflect and encourage you to consider these.
1. Make church a priority. This should be a commitment of every disciple-making parent. But it will make you countercultural. It will require navigation with other activities. But it will serve your children later in their lives long after they have stopped playing soccer.
– See Commit to the Duty and Delight of a Healthy Church
2. Make family meals and family devotions.. Eating together binds hearts in a unique way. And it is a great reminder to open up the Word. Dont make it too complicated. See the links below for my helps from The Disciple-Making Parent.
– Read chapters 14, 15, 16 and especially chapter 17 in The Disciple-Making Parent. Or listen to those chapters on the free audiobook. Email us here to get your free audiobook if you don’t already have it.
– See also The Power of Family Meals
3. Set aside time for Donut Dates. – I could handle going out once a week so that meant each of my children went out once a month. But it was a chance to talk with them and connect with their heart.
– See Nine Elements of an Effective Donut Date
4. Set aside time for Coffee Dates with your wife. Sharon and I would regularly go out to Panera, pray in the car, and then go in to discuss our family. That included ways to improve our marriage, an updated child-rearing plan, decisions for the future like extra-curricular involvements, and calendar decisions like holidays. It saved us from trying to have these conversation on the fly and miscommunicate.
– See The Power of the Coffee Date
Those were just a few I would recommend.
