I love tools. Home improvement projects are just excuses for me to add to my tool collection. But tools are much more than collectors items, they have particular purpose. Good tools help us to accomplish tasks more effectively and efficiently.
I have found tools helpful in all areas of my life where I have responsibility. Figuratively I have separate tool boxes as a pastor, as a parent, as a husband, and in other areas of my life. This is the first in a series of posts where I will share a few of the tools I use to help me better serve God and others in my life. You will find that many of these tools are used in several areas of my life. I hope these lists help you to better serve Christ and your family.
Here is a list of helpful tools I use as a father (in no particular order):
- A chair. We have a chair in our home that is “my” chair. It is a nice leather chair and ottoman that we bought at a great deal. I sit there to do my devotions every morning and read many evenings. It is also the place where I usually sit to read to our kids and where I can sit with them to talk about serious issues in their lives. It’s big enough that they can sit in my lap or even beside me. I can also sit them on the ottoman and look in their eyes if we need to talk seriously. Having a place where your kids can “meet” you is important as a parent. Set aside a chair, couch, or table where they can see you at your labors for them and experience your love towards them.
- A Watch. Young kids spell love T-I-M-E. They need my time and they need me to be on time. Yes, my phone keeps the time, but my phone is also a distraction. Wearing a watch helps me to give them the time they need without the distractions of my phone. (Side Note: A watch also helps us keep our kids on schedule which is the most important discipline that we give to our kids.)
- Bible. Kids need to see two primary things from you related to your Bible. They need to catch you reading it for your own sanctification and holiness and they need to hear you reading it to them for their growth and scripture memory.
- Calendar. Our life is busy. The church calendar is full, my personal calendar is full, and with four kids they always have something going on. Angela and I use Google Cal to organize our life. This way I make it to practices, games, performances, and awards ceremonies.
- Evernote. We have created notebooks for each of our kids in Evernote. We snap pictures of their art and accomplishments and keep them electronically because we cannot keep a hard copy of everything (Disclaimer: this is a new endeavor for us and we are not making full use of it yet).
- A Ball. Your kids need you to play with them. We all play ball, but they also like to wrestle, run, and sometimes my girls need me to play baby doll or tea party. Regardless of what your toys are, be a parent that plays with your kids.
- Dinner Table. It doesn’t matter if it is in the kitchen, dining room, or around a card table in the den, you need to eat dinner with your family and without the TV as often as possible.
- Chore List. Kids need to learn the value of work. They will only learn that value if we expect them to work and require them to work alongside us.
- My Truck. My truck is almost 20 years old it has nearly 250,000 miles. The paint is in bad shape, the exhaust pipes rattle, but my kids love to ride with daddy. Many of our best conversations take place one-on-one in the truck. Dads, take your kids with you as often as possible. Just being with you can make all the difference in the world.
- Camouflage. Yes, camo. My kids hunt with me. Angela doesn’t hunt, hunting is one of those activities that they only do with daddy and in which we can get one-on-one time (See: Aubrey’s First Deer and My Life Lesson). I won’t kill a deer if I take my three year-old, but I may just change his life.
These are a few of the tools I use in parenting. What are some of yours?
