I think this is a concept that we have lost because families have been the hardest hit in our culture.

Movies, books, and sitcoms all portray parents and their children as rushed, stressed, and lost in their everyday activities. Something as easy as walking to our cars is seen as chaotic. Schools encourage not one, but two sports a year and most churches enlist you in ever increasing activities. Whatever is left after our workdays is consumed on devices. Yes, we have lost the real purpose behind having a family, which is greatness.

When I say great, I do not necessarily, large, although that could be included. The part of the definition I am referring to is defined as, “distinguished by rank, office or power; elevated; eminent; magnanimous,” according to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. God’s original intent for families was to not only raise children to create a family, and it certainly was not to birth “essential workers” as the socialist dogma suggests, but it was to raise boys and girls to be men and women of character, courage, intelligence, and love. The patriots rising to the top during our nation’s recent struggles demonstrate the great qualities that I am describing. And these qualities arose from their families.

I’ll be writing more on this topic in future posts, but wanted to reintroduce a pastime that helped families create tight bonds, enjoy their evenings, and grow their character all at the same time. I’m referring to family reading time. For hundreds of years, families would gather around their fireplaces to reflect on the day. Many times grandparents would retell the stories of their youth or their parents’ challenges of taming the wild. These times also included reading from the Bible where children heard stories of courage, challenge, and triumph. Other times, someone would pull out a good book and read stories that matched the values of their Christian faith.

This gathering to share a stories that uplift your family is one of the simplest ways you can begin to slow down. When you do that, you will begin to think about dreams and the values you neglected. You’ll begin to remember how important your children are to you. And most importantly, you’ll realize God is helping your family everyday.

If you want to take this first step to reclaim your family’s greatness, I recommend reading a chapter an evening from the first book in the Living Tale Series, Henley & the Book of Heroes. There are samples from the first chapters on the home page, and I posted the prologue in the bookstore “look inside” link to help you get started.

See you on the inside!

Dr. Jane, Author of the Living Tale Series