Mark 10:13-16 gives us another view of Jesus living the "unhurried" life. Here were some parents doing exactly what you are doing: bringing their children to Jesus! The disciples apparently thought the Master could be making better use of His time than spending it with these "little ones". Jesus disagreed. He was indignant! Out of his mouth came those memorable words: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." And then we read: "He took the children in His arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Wow! The Lord of all the universe, cuddling and laughing and praying over toddlers! What a picture of our Lord: he finished the work the Father had given him to do, which included having time for his disciples and these "little ones".

This is why every Christian parent must be on their knees seeking God and His way for their children for that day. God created our children and He knows what they need to grow and develop into healthy adults. They need blocks of leisure time as well as the daily discipline of school work, chores and responsibilities. They need the chance to choose an excellent activity over a multitude of good ones. They need to see Mom and Dad developing a prayerful plan and for the most part, following it on a daily basis. Will that allow for occasions when we flex and do something totally spontaneous? Certainly! And when those times come, we can enjoy them all the more because we have the confidence that we are on track with a plan God has given us for the year. With that in place, we can confidently say "no" to the opportunities that detract from what we see as "the main thing". This is truly when "less" is "more"!

[Editor's Note: Did you miss Part 1 of this article? Click Here to read Part 1 ]
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JoAnn Dorrepaal is a born-again Christian and a teacher who lives in Norfolk, Virginia with her husband, Mark. During her career, she has worked with students in public schools, Christian schools and has also enjoyed some time teaching her own three children at home. JoAnn is a speaker, writer and advocate for today's Christian women to live the abundant life. You can email JoAnn at Teacher1jd@aol.com

1. MacDonald, "Ordering Your Private World," (Oliver-Nelson Co., Nashville, Tenn., 1984)