If you’re anything like me, you keep looking for what will come next – the next paycheck, the next year, the next promotion, the next level reached in production projections.  Two of my daughters have both frustrated and challenged me. 

To them, the moment is their life.  A flower captures their entire attention and imagination.  They are content with the moment.  How can we teach our children the values of both?

There’s a short book near the end of the Bible’s Old Testament – Haggai.  The nation of Israel had been captured by the Babylonians and then lived through the Medo-Persian Empire (modern-day Iran).  Some of the Israelites had been allowed to return to Israel, rebuild the wall and their homes.  They were looking forward to rebuilding their nation.  They were planning hard for their future – an admirable thing to do.  Through the prophet Haggai, God tells them something profound.  “Consider how things are going for you!  You have planted much but harvested little.  You have food to eat, but not enough to fill you up.  You have wine to drink, but not enough to satisfy your thirst.  You have clothing to wear, but not enough to keep you warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes.”  God could be saying that to you and me today.

If we don’t teach our children to think of the future, they will go nowhere.  We don’t want that.  I think most of us as parents want life better for our children than it has been for us.  We push our children to do well in school, in sports, in relationships.  We even expect our children to be able to do things we only dreamed of.

God was telling the Israelites (through Haggai) that they were working hard, earning money, taking care of physical needs, but one important present need was being ignored.  The temple was never rebuilt.  In all their futuristic effort, the present condition of their hearts was considered insignificant.  They needed a balance.

What are we teaching our children?  Is it all about the future?  Or do we also stop to listen to their hurts, to give a hug when they’ve been defeated, say, “I love you!” as they head out to play with friends?  Our children learn from us.  Is there a balance between planning for the future and being content with our todays?

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.