School for the most part has started, and most of our homes are now empty for a big part of the day. The kids are gone, and our daily habits tend to change. We might not know what to do with all of the extra time, and we look every which way. At times, it is not until we have exhausted every option that we think of praying. Yes, we now have more time to pray, to converse with God, to come by the chapel and spend some time in His presence! We need to give Him more of our time and learn to include Him in our entire day.
As quickly as it came, the solitude is gone and the children are back home. What a great joy that should be! While not always easy, especially with teenagers, we must make a great effort to spend time with them, converse with them, laugh with them! The time around the dinner table should be one of prayer, laughter, and joy. It is up to us to plan this time, to turn off the television, to go outside and play with our children, or to simply ask them how their day went.
We must remember that even if our children don’t realize it, they NEED the love and companionship of mom and dad. How else will they learn to trust the loving and eternal presence of God in their lives if they never experience it in a smaller form from their parents? In you, a child finds God. What a great blessing it is to be a parent! Enjoy it!