Parenting Matters

The Big Payoff

How long are you willing to wait

to see results?

“Just a minute!” I said for the third time. “But Daddy! I want to play now! Now, Daddy ... right now!”

I could talk all day about how my children can be impatient. They want a snack right now; forget waiting for supper. Or they want to watch TV, play a video game, or some other urgent need. As parents, we often react by shaking our heads.

But are we really much better at waiting? We hate to wait in lines, drive-throughs, restaurants ... ugh! After all, time is money. And on another level, our culture is one of instant gratification. There is not much discussion about delayed gratification anymore. No wonder consumer debt is running out of control!

But patience is one thing we absolutely must possess as parents. You must wait nine months to meet your newborn. You have to put in a lot of hours before getting that first smile or giggle and even longer to hear, “I love you!” And parenting is really an 18-year journey (minimum) of responsibility, teaching, and guidance before your child steps out of the nest. Talk about a long wait!

But if you invest time in your child along the way — time to listen, talk, play, pray, teach, and love unconditionally — more than likely you will have a big payoff in the end. Not that this is a guaranteed formula — but it is one that often leads to success.

We want to partner with you in your parenting journey. Notice several changes this month — in size, design, and content. We hope we will better meet your needs with these changes. This redesign includes new monthly departments for single parents, working parents, and expectant parents and several other departments that were repurposed to better meet your needs as busy parents. Let us know what you think or give us suggestions you have for the future. E-mail us at parentlife@lifeway.com and share your thoughts.

Parenting by grace,

Editor-in-Chief

MARCH 2008 PARENTLIFE 3