Turning off the tube.

I love television.  I love the internet even more.  More times than not, the television is turned off for dinner in our home.  However, that and the internet can take center stage a lot of evenings post dinner.  Last night was different. 

I visited friends and their four children.  Something really cool happened when the television was powered off.  Not one, but all four of their children joined us in the family room. 

And, we talked.

The ages of these children range from 11 to 18.  Yet, each one put aside their usual adolescent joys to join their parents and two other adults.  (Suddenly referring to myself as an adult seems bizarre.)  Anyhoo….

They weren’t instructed to congregate.  They just did.  And, how precious it must have been for their parents to have a moment of uninterrupted time with their children…..and me, of course J

I think I’m going to turn the tube off more often in my own home.  And, I shudder to say, even the world wide web.  Because, at the end of the day, I will forget that ridiculously funny Seinfeld rerun and the latest news reported by cnn.com. 

But I will hold tightly to my heart every word spoken, every joke made, every high five, every glance, every confession, every life discovery, every God moment, and every touch between my husband and two children. 

And, while right now my family time consists of fireplace stage performances of “I Had a Little Turtle” and transformations of my little autobot, I know I’m building a foundation that will enable us to not only do life together – but also share in it.

John Henry and Anna, I pray that in these moments together that “Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.”  Ephesians 3:17-18