Los padres estadounidenses promedio comienzan su día a las 6 a. m. y finalmente regresan a la cama a las 10 p. m. o más tarde. Estos días de 14 horas a menudo dejan poco espacio para pasatiempos y cuidado personal, y mucho menos tiempo para el crecimiento espiritual y la devoción personal. Si los padres encuentran unos minutos libres, la lista de tareas pendientes, como lavar la ropa, cenar, hacer los deberes, jugar y practicar deportes y otras citas personales, suelen ocupar esos momentos no utilizados.
In a recent study from the Pew Research Center, parents reported that the role of raising children is harder than they expected. Words like overwhelmed and stressed are used more and more frequently by caregivers today. The world has tried many solutions to alleviate the pressure parents are under, but they often only help superficially.
When we look to Scripture, we see that Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest."
Puede parecer una cosa más para añadir, pero cuando das prioridad a tu vida espiritual, experimentarás el alivio de echar tus cargas y preocupaciones sobre Jesús.
El crecimiento espiritual no puede quedar en segundo plano hasta que los hijos se hayan ido de casa. En cambio, como padres ocupados, podemos profundizar nuestra fe y seguir nutriendo nuestro espíritu al encontrar formas creativas de incorporar cosas durante nuestro día que nos acerquen más a Dios.
5 trucos de la vida espiritual para padres ocupados
- Giving thanks in everyday moments. Dar gracias en los momentos cotidianos. Los padres ocupados suelen tener una «visión de túnel» cuando se trata de los momentos cotidianos y mundanos de la vida. Cosas como sacar la basura, lavar los platos, ayudar a los niños con la tarea o conducir hasta el supermercado son oportunidades perdidas de dar gracias al Señor. Cuando saques la basura, agradece al Señor por todo lo que Él te provee. Cuando estés lavando los platos, agradécele por la bendición de la comida. Cuando estés ayudando a tus hijos con la tarea, susurra una oración de agradecimiento por bendecirte con niños y la oportunidad de ayudarlos cuando te necesitan. Y cuando estés conduciendo hasta el supermercado, agradece al Señor por la posibilidad de comprar comida, por Su protección cuando viajas y por las personas que te acompañan. 1 Tesalonicenses 5:18 NBLA «Den gracias en todo, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para ustedes en Cristo Jesús». 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
- Find an Audio Bible. The busyness of parents often leads to racing thoughts and mentally juggling multiple things at once. However, the practice of meditating daily on scripture can give your mind a break and bring refreshment to your spirit. As you sweep the floors or drive to work, or even as you get ready in the morning, take time to turn on an audio Bible and listen to a few passages of Scripture, allowing it to bless you and lift you up amidst the hurriedness of the day. Joshua 1:8 NIV "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
- Worship Music During the Evening. When the kids get home from school it is often one of the busiest times of day for parents. Between making dinner, helping with homework, and shuffling the children to extracurricular activities, it can seem like a whirlwind until heads finally hit the pillow at night. But by playing worship music as a backdrop to the evening, the atmosphere change that takes place brings incredible calmness amidst the chaos. Psalm 145:1 NIV "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever."
- Wake-Up 10 Minutes Early and Read a Devotional. No one likes waking up early. With an average wake-up time of 6 a.m. for parents in America, every minute of sleep feels precious. However, by giving up a mere 10-minutes of slumber, the entire trajectory of your day can be set on the right course. Jesus modeled this idea of waking up to spend time alone with God, as seen in Mark chapter one. Giving up these few moments to commune with God is something that you will never be sorry you did. To help motivate yourself, try having a special cup of coffee or tea brewing that you can enjoy while you do your morning devotions. Mark 1:35 NIV "Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
- Fall Asleep to Sermons or Biblical Podcasts. When parents lay down for the night, often they have a hard time calming their minds enough to fall asleep. Racing thoughts of the day, or the day to come, can keep busy parents awake for hours. To help focus your mind, try finding a Biblical podcast or theologically sound preacher that you can listen to as you fall asleep. Allowing these things to minister to your soul will let your body and mind begin to relax as you rest in the truths being discussed. If you haven't checked out the Ignite Podcast, we would recommend using this parenting driven resource to start your new routine. Psalm 4:8 NIV "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.