Bundles of Joy

George Barna had posted on their site a survey about kids between the ages of 8-12 that I think could be a useful read for anyone.

Here are just a few things that the kids who Barna had surveyed say are good:

* Eight out of every ten adolescents (79%) feel safe when they are at home

* Two out of every three (69%) say their family eats dinner together at least five nights a week

* 64% say they feel they can always trust their parents to do what is right for the child

One area that the kids had told Barna research group that was not fulfilling their hopes and dreams was their faith.

* Less than four out of every ten young people (38%) said that churches have made a positive difference in their life.

* An even smaller number (34%) said that prayer is very important to them.

I want to bring out one more item of interest that this survey revealed:

The importance of the family in the life of young people was underscored by George Barna, who directed the research. “Much of the stability and security that tweens experience is a result of their family environment and relationships”, he noted. “There are a variety of areas in which that experience is a struggle, but parents must be encouraged to devote themselves to investing themselves in their relationship with their children, and in providing places and opportunities for their children to mature.

Let me encourage every parent out there, myself included. Parenting is not easy, but as we all know it was never told to us that it would be, but we as parents have an obligation to our kids to be involved in their lives. Parents should be knocking down the doors to each of their churches children’s ministries to volunteer to spend time with the most precious gift (their child’s life) that has been given to us by God. In doing this, not only are we helping our children, but we are modeling for those parents who may not attend church as well.

Go and volunteer and enjoy the built in time that your church provides for you to spend with your kids in addition to what you are already doing. Have fun and enjoy the precious gifts that God has given and entrusted into your hands to take the lead in molding and shaping their lives to become more Christ like.