Train — Talk — Time

We had a wonderful time at the family retreat this past weekend. My faith is always solidified in a setting such as Palmetto Bible Camp where you are surrounded on every side by God’s amazing and powerful creation. The weekend began with a tasty meal, a family challenge, setting goals as parents, and roasting marshmallows around a fire. God granted my request of sunshiny skies and warm weather. God also knew we needed our rest so around 10:30 pm when He brought a downpour of rain that made us turn in for the night. Saturday morning we woke to Canadian geese landing on the lake as the sun rose.

We truly desired this event to be a retreat away from the pressures of everyday life—a time of relaxation for parents and their children. We wanted to provide an opportunity to learn and grow as parents. The desire was to challenge each other to keep Christ at the center of everything we do and every decision that we make.
Steve and Donna Meeks boiled all their experience and wisdom in parenting down to three T’s (Train, Talk, and Time). As we raise our children we must train them in the ways of Christ. This requires us to talk to them often about the ways of Christ and this will take a lot of time. Hopefully I will soon have the
sessions on DVD so that you can see and hear them, if you were unable to attend.

Think with me for a moment about a salesman who is attempting to sell a product that he does not use himself. Like a guy who sells Fords for a living, but will only drive a Chevy — not very convincing. This is a lot like parenting. Our children are not going to buy what we are selling, if we are not living and breathing it everyday. We all want our kids to be obedient, respectful and grow up to follow Christ, but if we do not truly know and rely on Christ ourselves then they will not buy what we sell them. So, we must start by examining our own hearts. We must spend time daily with God in prayer and in His Word. We must be faithful to Him when times are tough and when times are good. We must live an authentic faith in order for Christianity to spread especially to our own children.

I hope that those who were able to attend the family retreat were blessed by the quantity and quality time you spent with your family. I pray that the information that the Meeks shared was as encouraging and challenging to you as it was for me.

God’s blessings to you all.

Will Tucker