Keys to Family Power (7)

Key # 7 - Investing in Ourselves - The Returns are High!

Most of us invest our monetary asset. We know that at the very least, we need to put our money in a bank to earn interest rather than leave it idling. Others invest in antiques, or stocks and shares etc. We all invest with the expectation of a return in investment. Companies talk about investing in their staff, they train them and give them opportunities in hope that these people will have bring in good business for the company.

But have we all given thoughts to investing in ourselves and our family ? Do we invest in areas that have the potential to bring joy to the family and similarly,? Do we avoid areas that will bring pain ? Stephen Covey in his book "First Things First" opens with an prologue that stated that most people on their death bed would never say " I wish I had spent more time in my office". Rather, they often say, "I wish I had spent more time with my family."

We must feel and have an urgent need to invest in our family. We must do this on a daily basis in order to have power in the family. The family must be our priority over work and friends.

What should we invest in ?

1. Invest our time - Billy Joe Daugherty, Pastor of Victory Christian Centre (who wrote the original Seven Keys to Family Power and from which my sharing has been based on) teaches that love is spelt as T-I-M-E. I absolutely agree with him. We must show love to our family by having valuable time invested in them. Pray with them, play with them cry with them and grow with them.

2. Invest our energy - Many of us are guilty of spending all our energy outside the family. We sap up so much of our energy in the office, then with friends or for our own recreation that by the time we go home, we are completely worn out. Often, we tell our spouse and children that we are dead tired and they should not bother us. We must therefore live a balanced life by first having a priority set up and following it. I am emphasising a balanced priority and do not wish to be misunderstood for promoting the extreme of "family-only" lifestyle.

3. Invest in creativity - Life in the family need not be boring at all. This is an especially difficult concept for Asian families. By tradition and up bringing, we tend to over curb creativity. The home must be a lively place. Routine always bores just as creativity always surprises and keeps the family going. We need to learn to put creativity in all our activities; when we pray, when we play and when we teach.

4. Invest our love - Presents or Presence ? In my own experience, my family appreciates my presence with them much more than they do my presents (which I still give). However, for many others, their affections are often on things rather than on people. I still cuddle and hug my children (my eldest daughter is 25 this Dec) as it was when they were very young. I still pray with my youngest daughter at night in her room as much as I can... And most importantly (I strongly encourage all husbands to do this), I kiss my wife and tell her I love her every night that I lay on bed with her.

Suggestions for practice:

1. Make a determined effort to WANT to invest in our family - invest time and love.

2. Leave your work at the office at the end of the day, after giving an honest day's worth of your effort.

3. Allocate time for each of your family member every week. And let those time be wholly theirs!

4. Shower your family with your words of love, hugs and kisses, a listening ear and surprises (an unexpected gift, a treat etc).

I will conclude this sharing next week on 4th Nov.