Packing Material

Photo courtesy of ellafullerton.files.wordpress.com

In the last week or so, I have tried to carve out some time to evaluate my values, priorities, and goals, both personally and as a family.

           ...perhaps it was the extra time I had around the Thanksgiving holiday...
           ...perhaps it was the Black Friday deals on super cute planners like this one!!...

But, for whatever the reason, I am glad to have taken some time out to focus on what is most important to me, and to us.  It seems like the day-to-day busy-ness of family life can crowd out these important things, even with the best of intentions.

Some important questions for me in this process have included ones like:
What do I want my children to remember as "Mom always said..."
What moral and spiritual values do I make a conscious effort to impart to my children?
How do much time do I truly spend (i.e. waste) on Facebook, email, and Pinterest?
Do I truly prioritize my health, and if so, what does this need to look like on a daily basis?

These are not always easy questions to answer, but I believe they are powerful for living with purpose, especially when I take the time to go on and formulate my priorities into short and long-term goals (which I hope to do soon!).

However, in the midst of all this internal dialogue about values and priorities, I have been impressed with something new that I'd love to share with you.

It sort of materialized as I was carefully unpacking our Christmas tree ornaments the other day--parting all the shredded paper, unrolling bubble wrap, and opening ornament boxes--and revisiting all the memories each little ornament holds. Trips we've taken.  The kids' preschool handprints. Places we've lived.  Each little bauble and hanging trinket emerging from the packing material that had kept it safe all year long.

And this got me to thinking...

In my intention to focus on the moral and spiritual values I want to expressly teach my children, have I considered the "packing material" these family gems are protected in each day?  In other words, do I consider those down times, in-between times, seemingly mundane and unimportant times in our day, when I am with my children, and the impact they have to powerfully teach and instruct my children?

Have I considered what they see me do or read during my spare time?

Have I considered the music we listen to in the car and what it may teach them?

Have I considered the tone of voice I use, the eye-contact (or lack thereof), and the way in which I dialogue with them throughout the day?
Have I considered how I speak to my spouse during the day?
Have I considered how I handle disappoints and frustrations that come up unexpectedly?

Have I considered the attitude with which I do housework, cook, and run errands, and what it shows them about the source of my strength and joy?

You see, I've come to realize in a fresh way this holiday season that it is not just what I explicitly teach my kids during our devotional time, homeschool time, or those conspicuous "teachable moments" throughout the day, that will help to forge their character.  Instead, it is also--or perhaps even more so--those mundane moments, the overall atmosphere and environment within which my children grow up, that will make a lasting and far-reaching impact on their character.

This "packing material" is so crucial to properly house and protect all those precious jewels of faith, values, and morals my husband and I take the time to teach our children every day.  And if that packing material is found to be wanting and deficient, well, then my children will ultimately suffer for it.

Will you consider this packing material in your family life, too, dear friend?  As you unpack your Christmas decorations, or think ahead to the New Year and plan out your priorities and goals, will you think about all the ways you teach your children--both explicitly and implicitly--so that your precious family and faith values will be preserved?  May we spur one another on as we seek to teach and instruct our children, both through the big, blatant teaching moments, as well as the small!