A Force To Be Reckoned With
A Force To Be Reckoned With
217. Family Meetings
Do you have family meetings at your house?
It might seem like a small thing, but these casual hangouts can actually be a game-changer when it comes to staying organized and keeping everyone connected. We chat about how weekly family meetings help us stay on top of schedules, responsibilities, and avoid those little misunderstandings that pop up.
In this episode, we share how we keep things running smoothly at home, from organizing kids’ stuff to setting up clear expectations and consequences. Plus, we dive into the real challenges of parenting in the digital age—especially when it comes to managing screen time and guiding our kids through the online world.
Join us for some real talk, practical tips, and some good old-fashioned family wisdom to help bring more balance and connection into your home.
Episode Highlights:
- Introducing Family Meetings.
- The flow of our family meetings.
- The importance of follow-through.
- Kids and devices.
- Bringing it all back to scripture.
Links Mentioned in Episode/Find More on A Force to Be Reckoned With:
- Jointheforce.us
- Follow us on Instagram @bethanyadkins
- Find us on Youtube!
This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.
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Speaker 2:So the questions are who's the fight against, and are we winning or losing? We're the Adkins, and we are a force to be reckoned with. Are you ready to join the force.
Speaker 1:Hello, hello everyone hi everybody and happy tuesday.
Speaker 2:Tuesday so we're just going to jump right in. We hope you're having a great week. We decided to do a new episode type topic that we're excited about, and we're going to try and do these the first or the second Tuesday of every month. So we're calling these episodes family meetings and what. What made me think of this is just family meetings are like a staple in our family. We've done episodes on them before. We've had um times in our like lives where we've been super, super consistent and regimented with them and they're so beneficial and helpful. And then we have seasons, like right now, where it's Sunday I mean they're still on the calendar and it's Sunday afternoon as we record this right now and I can't believe it's already evening.
Speaker 2:The weekend has just flown by but, with that said, we are still doing our best to do our family meetings, and even though they're not at the fullest capacity that they've been in the past, yeah, Sometimes they're kind of like on the go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're still very beneficial, very needed, and we talk about a lot of really valuable things during them with each other, with the kids, and I just thought, ok, this is fun. We look at our podcast community as family and so we can just do one episode every month where they're called family meetings, where we're kind of divulging what we're talking about in real time in our family meetings to kind of bring back the spirit of the Adkins Highlight Reel where we're talking in real time and about real things that we're going through. And yeah, I just thought it would be fun because they're also relatable, because I have found often the things that we're going through as a family, I'll have conversations with friends or family and they're often walking through the same things.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and just to reiterate what we've said before. But the family meetings, when we do them regularly, are important. We definitely notice when we don't do them because in reality it's just kind of like setting expectations and getting on the same page for the week and you know we also use iCalendar and put you know whatever it is ranging from meetings to doctor's appointments to sports games or practices on the calendar, so that that keeps us organized too. But then we go over it to make sure that we're not missing anything, so that we know, okay, on this day we're going here and we're doing this, or you're going here and we're dividing and conquering and doing this.
Speaker 1:Do you need help with this? You know any of those things?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so a couple of things with this episode.
Speaker 1:When we don't do them. There can be some arguments that take place primarily because I don't have any idea what's going on at all and he forgets he's part of a family to begin with truth
Speaker 2:but okay. So just going over the family meeting structure. It's not super formal or anything like that, but just over time we have kind of developed like a pattern with the way we do things and it just kind of flows and this doesn't work, probably isn't going to work for everyone, but this is kind of the flow that we have come up with. So usually we make it super casual, we sit down, we're in the living room. Although I was thinking about today, I thought this would be kind of fun to do as we eat over dinner, which we still haven't gotten back into that I was literally just thinking that when I walked past the dining room to come in here yeah I just looked over at our dining room table and it was like cleared off, yeah, and I was like man, we haven't really sat down to have a family dinner in a while, yeah, at that table.
Speaker 1:We normally we just like kind of do it in the kitchen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but we just first we have to start with getting back to our regular family meetings. So anyway, for now they're kind of in the living room. At the end of the day, we're sitting down as a family, and so we'll just shut off the TV, any electronics, and the flow is we'll go over regular housekeeping things, and this can mean literal housekeeping, like get your shoes off my stairs, get your book bags in their cubbies, get your stuff away from the front door.
Speaker 1:In the cubbies, not on the floor around the cubbies.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Or you know, like load your dishes, no food in your rooms, literal housekeeping. Or just you know housekeeping items like, okay, we just want to mention this and this and this so that our kids are on the same page as us and that they are reminded that like hey, this is what it looks like to be part of a family and this is what it takes for a family to function. Yeah, at least somewhat.
Speaker 1:And if the dishwasher is clean, empty it. But if you have to put a dirty dish in the dishwasher because you're on the go or in the sink, put water in it. Yeah, Don't leave oatmeal in your bowl in the sink we're going to go into the things that we're actually dealing with in real life next.
Speaker 2:So, as far as the flow goes, housekeeping, and then we go over our schedule for the week like, okay, carter has a game these two nights. Liberty has practiced. This night there's this doctor's appointment. We have this really important meeting coming up this evening. We have a family party, family dinners this night, just so that everybody's on the same page.
Speaker 1:That's where c Corey and I figure out rides and Carter and Liberty figure out you know if they're going to be spending the night somewhere, yada, yada and it's important, you know, because there are there have been times where we I mean a lot of times we haven't included them, and then there's times where we have included them, and I think it's really important to include the kids in this one, because it shows them how to do this with their own family one day. Yeah, because they are really helpful.
Speaker 2:Or they might decide I hate family. I'm never doing that.
Speaker 1:But the other thing is is it sets expectations with them too. Is like, look, hey guys, we got a busy week, or they have something to look forward to, like, hey, we have this fun thing on Friday, or whatever. It's all about setting expectations and everybody getting on the same page, and I think it's important for the kids to see that too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, ok, so Housekeeping schedule and then next we kind of after those two things, we often have lessons, so like, ok, this didn't go great this week. This is why you have this privilege taken away from you. Let's talk about this a little bit more, because we didn't really have time to dive into the details of it. Can you hear her drinking her bottle?
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Dive into the details of it. You know, wow, it was in the chaos of the week. So we're going to talk about it now and we're going to talk about lessons to learn from these mistakes and what we're going to do going forward, if we're ever in this situation, and we can talk about this a little bit more in the episode. And then the next part is often with those lessons. We're tying those things that we're teaching them to scripture.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So then we often close out with reading a book and or watching a TV show. So what we're reading right now I think we've talked about this in previous episodes is we're reading the Wing Feather series, and we try to do it throughout the week, but really it usually happens like usually only happens like probably two days a week, if we're being realistic. Yeah only happens like probably two days a week, if we're being realistic.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and the mood, the tv show that we're going through right now as a family, as the chosen, yeah, and the the wing feather book is good, like the chapters are actually kind of short, yeah, and they usually end in like a cliff hanger there's also aging for all ages yeah, and it's kind of cool.
Speaker 1:I, I think I haven't didn't even talk to you about this and we kind of had a little bit before anyways, but um, there is, they turned it into an animated show too. That's on the angel studios app and I think the first it's the first season is is free. You don't have to have like a subscription or anything to do the first season. But it's kind of cool because then you get to, because, like, when you're reading it, you're visualizing it yourself and it's kind of cool to see what they, you know, actually look like.
Speaker 2:I know I'm excited about that. We'll have to watch it. Ok, so that is the flow of our family meeting. So then we're not going to talk about those flows, that flow every family meeting episode. From here on out. What you can expect with these family meeting episodes is we're just coming to you guys. You guys sit down whether it's just you or you and your spouse, on Sunday night, open up this podcast and listen to it together, and we're going to talk family meeting style, like the lessons, lessons, the scripture this is why you guys have had privileges taken away from you this week, right these are what we're struggling with and these, these are the things we need to do with our kids, so we just thought it would be fun.
Speaker 2:so, with that said, what are some of our um, housekeeping and lessons that we want to talk about for this family meeting episode? This will be a shorter one. The next ones will be more entertaining and we'll have more stuff.
Speaker 1:I feel like we kind of only had like two kind of. But there are times where just in the chaos of everything and us not keeping up with the kids on certain things and we kind of mentioned it a little bit already but, like our kids, they have cubbies that we had gotten them and we talked about this before to keep things organized because the front of our house isn't like there's not a huge a bunch of space there. So we have our cubbies that we got them, nice cubbies in the garage.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And that's where their coats and their shoes and their book bags are supposed to go. And there's been often times where we walk in, I walk in and I get home and I see shoes by the door, I see book bags in the dining room, um. And then there's other times where even go into the cubbies and the stuff is laying on the floor and it's like guys like put it in the cubby and it's just and we're trying to teach the kids in that too it's like if you keep things organized, then things run more smoothly and we have more time to do more family things or fun things, if we maintain and keep up with these things throughout the week and throughout the day right, like I love systems, but I will say this year, for whatever reason our family has really struggled with, like okay, these systems exist, why are we not sticking to them?
Speaker 1:so yeah, and they're easy. It's not like it's some complicated thing, it's like you got a cubby, it's yours right, put your stuff in your cubby yeah.
Speaker 2:So just the. That's a really quick. So the point in sharing this with you as the parents is OK, guys, if you have systems, don't be afraid to continue to re-implement the systems, reinforce the systems are in place, they work so much better. And I'm saying this from a place of total survival right now, because our house has not been functioning well or smoothly and I feel like often we're running from that place of survival. So recently, in the last two or three months, we've been having to kind of re-implement these systems and reinforce them, and so that's kind of the space where we're in right now.
Speaker 2:Don't give up on the systems. Just, your kids are farts sometimes and they're lazy and they need reminded of the systems and they need consequences. Like that's the other thing we have been not having follow through. So me especially, I'll be like okay, if your book bags end up at the front door and if your rooms are not clean and your stuff is not in your cubby and your shoes are on the stairs, you're not going anywhere, right, that's usually the the thing, like if those things aren't taken care of first, right, there's no screen time and you're not going anywhere. But we've been in such a place of survival that it's just been like, oh yeah, it's fine. And then, like, sunday comes and I'm so annoyed because we haven't kept up with anything, the kids haven't um been held accountable, and then we're left with this like disaster of a house and none of the systems. It's not, the systems didn't work, it's that they weren't followed.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so you can only blame your kids and I'm so much, because they also need accountability I was trying to teach them too.
Speaker 1:Like, like, for a habit, you need a trigger. Like there's a book called the power of habit and I kind of like stumbled back into it because I'm sitting there and I'm like telling them, like, why is it that as soon as I walk in the door, I immediately am looking like I'm putting my stuff away and I'm looking at your stuff laying here and I'm also then asking you did you feed the chickens, did you feed the cat? And empty the litter box? And oh, no, no, no, it's because my trigger is walking in the door. Like, as soon as I walk in the door, my mind immediately goes to those yeah, it's like you almost can't even relax until those things right, so I'm always reminding them, and so it's like they need that trigger.
Speaker 1:It's like you almost can't even relax until those things are done. Right, so I'm always reminding them, and so it's like they need that trigger. It's like just do it as soon as you walk in the door, don't wait, don't come in, throw your stuff down, then get a snack or whatever, and then do that Like you're going to forget.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Like, as soon as you walk in the door, just rip the Band-Aid off.
Speaker 2:Eat. Just go put your stuff in the cubbies and figure out which animal you're on that day and feed them. Yeah, and also like they're. It's one of those things where it's like, working out, you're like, oh, I'll do it later, I'll do it later and partly I think that's it for them. Like they're like, oh, I'm just gonna sit down and watch tv, I've had a long day, and it's like. But also I think that then I'm like, yeah, yeah, you know what, they have had a long day that I'm going to let them sit down and watch TV and then, before I know it, they didn't do it. So it's like, don't feel bad for them.
Speaker 2:They are part of this family too, and that's where I struggle. It's like I feel bad for them. Sometimes I'm like, oh, they have so many responsibilities and they have so much going on. And Sometimes I'm like, oh, they have so many responsibilities and they have so much going on. And then it's like, oh, they could probably wait to feed the chickens or they don't need to go do their laundry right now. But then I end up furious with them and it's like, actually, no, those things are really good for them, to hold them accountable.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's just like the and I'm just going to say it again like the whole trigger thing is really important for a habit. You know, it's like like for if you're going to work out, like if you, if your trigger is, it's part of your morning routine. Like I get up and I drink my water and then I go work out, like that's your trigger. Like I woke up, I drink my water, I go work out. It's like you always do it. Uh, even for like cleaning up, like like for me, when I, when I cook, cook, I usually clean up as soon as I'm done cooking because, honestly, like the food is still like easy to get off of the pans and everything. Like I just do it right then, because I know if I don't, I and I wait till later, like it's probably it's probably not gonna happen, or it's not gonna happen at a timely manner, it's gonna get in the way of something else, so I just do it yeah you know what I mean okay, so another housekeeping thing.
Speaker 2:that just real quick. That we has been such a challenge for us and we've talked about this on the podcast and we're still trying to navigate it, and I've heard us saying this a lot recently to carter and liberty is like, unfortunately, carter, you're the guinea pig and Liberty, you are not going to get privileges at the same age that Carter is, because we are realizing sometimes that we are not perfect and we have made some serious mistakes, and so, on that topic, one of those things that we're navigating right now is devices, and so, for this family meeting topic, I just want to encourage you parents out there like you, don't get privacy on the phone.
Speaker 1:Like you're a kid, you're in our house and we pay for that phone, so at any point in time, we can read any of your text messages, we can look at any of your pictures, anything on the phone. Like because I feel like I know and I've seen this at different places like where parents are like oh well, I just want to give them privacy, like that's their device, or like they'll even do that with their room, like that's their room, yeah, and it's like no, they're in your house, this is, this is our house. So even the room like this is our house. We pay for the house they are. They get to stay here for free so we can go in the room, we can go through anything we want at any time.
Speaker 2:Like you don't have privacy like that and that's not like we have to remember. Like the whole theme of this podcast, we are trying to be families who are a force to be reckoned with. We are battling against the spiritual forces in this world, against the enemy, the devil, the you know power, those evil, evil powers. That's a real thing, and we, our responsibility as christian parents, is to equip our children to grow up and be functioning members of society who are also equipped to do the same thing, and so yeah, and I look at it a lot and we just told Carter this too, and Liberty is like it's our job as parents.
Speaker 1:We're coaching you through these things. We're coaching you through like, how to have a phone and have proper etiquette. We're coaching you through how to interact with people. We're trying to set the standard with ourselves and live it out by example. But then it's our job to help you navigate these things so that when you are out on your own, you know how to do this on your own and like it's as a as a coach, you're coaching them in practice on how to execute for the game and then when you get out on the game, you don't get to stop the game and coach them through. I mean you can call like timeouts here or there, but like you can't stop the game and say no, look, hey, game. Say no, look, hey, you need to think about this and do this. It's like no, this is the game. So everything you practice that week, then you're giving them executed in the game.
Speaker 2:Right, so operate right.
Speaker 1:So it's our job. We're coaching them through these things as they go, and then they go to school, they go to church, they go to practice and they're gonna mess up. They're gonna mess up like nobody's perfect, nobody executes the perfect game plan, but it's our job to equip you and coach you through these things. So that's where it even comes into play. With the phone, it's like how are you using the phone as something to be productive?
Speaker 2:Right, and so that's kind of where this family meeting topic. We could talk about this for a long time and we have talked about it before on this. But, like Carter got a gab phone when he was nine.
Speaker 2:That's one of those phones that like doesn't have internet, doesn't have apps, it's just calling and texting, and he really was only able to call or text really us and my parents and cory's mom for the longest time and he could take pictures and videos, but he couldn't send them yeah, and then we upgraded it after about a year to where he could could send pictures, yeah, and then, um, this past summer we ended up it was that phone bill was getting expensive and we didn't really love the service and we learned that really we could have a lot of limitations on an iphone and it was cheaper for us to just put him on our cell phone plan. So yeah we did that this past summer.
Speaker 2:He was 12 and um, the limitations are really like you can really dial it in yeah and again like so we we've done this and like we're still not fully opposed to it, but the situation that we're running into right now and what we're realizing is one we are so, so busy and it is a part-time job to monitor the things that your kids are consuming. Even with all of the limitations that he had on his phone, he was still getting access to like watching videos. He had this app that originally we thought was just like a video editor and it also was like kind of like a social media platform and watching stuff on there. And even without that, I got in to like just reading text conversations and it wasn't anything terrible, but just a reminder that he is 12.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And they're, they're 12 and they don't have phone etiquette, text etiquette or even people skills or like emotional skills. So like he doesn't have an emotional iq for in-person conversations, let alone the complexities of having emotional iq of like interpreting text messages right tones and all of that and so it just was nothing terrible, but just unproductive.
Speaker 1:And even though we had limitations, like there were times where, like we accidentally clicked off a time limit or something and didn't realize we needed to turn it back on and he was spending too much time on the phone and it was affecting his behavior like his, his social interactions with us.
Speaker 1:He was more short fused, he was really into the phone and less engaging with the family and with his siblings and it was just it was heading down a not good place and it wasn't like the worst things guys, like if you just give your kid free reign on their phone with no limitations. That's not what we did here and that could be way worse. And there's. The other thing is, too we're very transparent with him about it is like there's a a lot of studies coming that have come out about the detriments of your kid having a phone. I even heard somebody say, like the moment you give your kid a phone, like that's the end of their childhood. Yeah, like, it's like and these are really in depth, like studies done by doctors and different people that it's like not not good.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So, with that said, we're not, we're still navigating this. So that's our family meeting topic. Like if we were had you over for dinner tonight, we would be talking about these things and the struggle we're having. And maybe you're deciding if you're going to get your kid a phone for Christmas and we're just telling you like what we, where we are right now, that doesn't mean he's not going to have a phone forever. We're not really sure. We're just kind of taking it a week at a time. But and it's not, we didn't take it away as a punishment.
Speaker 2:We just said like right now, we don't have capacity to monitor it at the degree that we need to, and you don't have enough self-control um, to be not honest, but like to monitor it yourself, and so this is doing you a disservice, um, by giving you a free reign and that's the whole thing is like.
Speaker 1:we have to remember that our kids, like until they're 18, like they're and even beyond, their brains are still developing, like there's a reason why you can't drink alcohol until, or purchase alcohol and drink alcohol until you're 21, or with cigarettes and things, because or watch or go to the movies and go we'll go to rated r movie like on your own, like Like you can't do those things. It's because the kids, their brains, just aren't fully developed yet and they're really not ready for a lot of these things. And I feel like we're seeing that a lot with the phone. Actually, there's I didn't even tell you this, but there's some states that are um, are passing laws that are putting limitations on the kid with social media platforms, that kids aren't allowed to have a social media platform until they're 14. Some are like until they're 16.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's great.
Speaker 1:And it's just because their brains aren't aren't there, they don't have that discernment. It goes back to that self-control thing. Like think, think about yourself. Like think about the amount of self-control that we have to have, and this is what we're telling Carter is like I can slip off and start eating bad and being unhealthy, or I can slip off and be on my Instagram too much or watch too much TV, but as adults we have discernment and responsibility. Now, to where we can, we can catch ourselves and try to redirect, but think about how challenging that is for an adult, let alone for a kid that doesn't have a fully developed brain.
Speaker 2:And all your friends are doing it, right yeah.
Speaker 1:And all the life experiences that come with it.
Speaker 2:So that's just kind of. This is an open ended conversation, like we don't have an answer. We haven't landed anywhere yet. But I will say it's open, like we've had really great conversations with him this week, like we've had really great conversations with him this week. It's only been a week because we had this conversation like last weekend or early this week.
Speaker 1:And I was just going to say because the flip side of this argument is that we want him. We do want him to have a phone at some point in time while, like, he's living in our house, because we do need to help teach him how to navigate the etiquette and self-control from now when we have realized we have more capacity to like sit down and and have these conversations, but um, or you know that he proves that he's a little bit more responsible.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, all that to like. We kind of left things with him like listen, this is not a punishment, and he kind of agreed. He's like you know what, you're right, I, I don't like the way I feel when I'm on my phone too much. I feel crappy in my head and I, I need to. He was like. He said I need to turn my life around.
Speaker 2:And so you know, obviously he, if we said you can have your phone back today, he would be so happy. But we just said you know, let's spend this time instead of being on. I even said to me like I'm on my phone a lot too because of work, but I will do better when I come home for the day and you know, after five o o'clock I will leave my phone and I'll just stay off of it and we can just spend more time being intentional as a family and um and I don't even like getting up early and get we get more sleep, we get up and and your dad will take you to the gym before school, like because those are the things that are going to make you feel mentally strong and that and are going to equip you for the challenges, because this is the last piece of it is we are.
Speaker 2:If you have kids that are our age like we have a fourth grader and a seventh grader they're facing like real peer like struggles every day, not peer pressure necessarily, but just they're having hard conversations at school. They're hearing things that, like, we might want to turn a blind eye to, but they're hearing things and seeing things that that we need to be having conversations with them about.
Speaker 1:And things that wouldn't even necessarily be a big deal to us as adults, but are a big deal to them. Yeah, you know, and it's hard for them, yeah, and so the other thing I just wanted to say, too, is I don't know, I was going to ask you. I don't know if you've noticed, but as we were talking about this, I realized that since he hasn't had his phone, I've noticed a huge change in his behavior.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah for sure, and and that was the last piece of our conversation with um him was in it Like him and Liberty were actually getting along and like playing and not fighting.
Speaker 1:Like they were being loud in the garage, shooting hoops on the thing, and I walked in I'm like, are you guys fighting or are you having fun? Oh no, we're having fun, we're laughing. And I'm like, ok, because I'm so used to the when I hear the like loud noises from when those two are off doing whatever, that they're fighting about something. Yeah, that they were actually having fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome. So that was like the last piece of our conversation. Was that like for him? He's like well, everybody has a phone and we're like well, first of all, that's not true, but also, as Christians, like we are called to be set apart and so right now, like this is what we just are deciding for you. And second, the excessive use of your phone and the unproductive conversations that you're having on your phone. You might not notice it until you're more removed, but it's impacting your confidence, it's impacting the way that you think about things, it's impacting everything, and I'm guilty of that too. When I'm on my phone too much, I get down, I'm more negative, and instead we need to be filling that time with reading, and that's one thing that we've been having.
Speaker 2:Our trying to have our kids do is reading more and like watching positive documentaries with us and, you know, going to work out at the gym and so that kind of ties into the scripture that we are talking about with them this month, because the fact of the matter is, like Corey said, some of this stuff does seem so small to us as adults, but if you think back and you put yourself in their shoes, it is really hard.
Speaker 2:It is hard, and just like we're going through hard challenges, they are too, and that can feel so hopeless and so discouraging, and there are really big things that kids deal with, and there are also kind of silly things too. But at the end of the day, we have to remember, especially as believers, that we're going to face trials and we're going to face challenges, but we're called to be set apart, and we're also called to be reminded that the life that God calls us to is not one of ease or comfort. It's one that we're promised that we're going to face hard things, and so that's why the scripture that we've chosen to memorize with our kids this month and they actually talked about it in church today is John 16, 33. And it's in this world. You'll face troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world. Is there anything you want to say about that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean you kind of hit it, though it's like we and I think we even brought this verse up in other podcast topics is that this life isn't easy, and it's really not easy when you're following Christ. And I mean Jesus says take up your cross and follow me. Like taking up your cross isn't some, you know? You put on a necklace, like it's taking on the abuse, you know and taking going fighting against the enemy. And if, if you're doing good things, the enemy doesn't want you to do good things, he wants to take you down. I forget the verses. He's a lion prowling around looking for somebody to devour, right, and when you're doing good things, he hates that. When you're following what God wants you to do, he hates that. So he is going to give you problems. But, like we were talking about in, or part of the sermon was about in church today, was that there is a real enemy out there, but we know the end.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:We know that Jesus will defeat him Right and that Jesus loves us and because of that we talked about peace in church today and that you will have a peace that surpasses all understanding, in knowing who you are in Christ and what Christ has done and what he will do, and it's promised to us. It says right there in the verse. It says in this world you will have trouble, you'll have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world. He doesn't say you may have hard times, you may have troubles. He says, no, you will have troubles, but I've already won, I've already defeated the enemy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so this is why I love family meetings, because it goes from the most practical, simple things, from like talking about the logistics of a schedule to like putting your dishes in the dishwasher instead of in the sink, and then we get down to scripture and like why this all matters and and screens, and it just like we. Sometimes we get long-winded and our kids are like, okay, this is enough, but there are ways to keep it simple, and so this was kind of like a mini family meeting. Um, when we just want to encourage you guys, like if you're looking, if you feel like you're just like looking for an anchor point in your week, like you just feel like you're I know the baby just spit up, if you just feel like you're scrambling week after week and it's just like you don't know the difference between, like you know one day of the week after the other, I would encourage you. Like you know one day of the week after the other. I would encourage you, whether you are it's just you and your spouse and you're just married you're a single person do them with yourself. If you're a single parent, do them with your kids.
Speaker 2:They're just so valuable is to sit down and touch base with your family and just have this anger point these family meetings, these housekeeping things, the schedule, the lessons, the scripture, and then pray over it all, pray over your week ahead, pray over your friendships, pray over your struggles, pray for each other and with each other, and then have that scripture. And so for this month, probably each of our episodes for the rest of the month will even though it's Christmas, we'll touch on this verse and then next month we'll kind of share with you guys, on our family meeting episodes, what scripture we're memorizing as a family for that month, and we'll give you guys an opportunity to print out a scripture card and memorize it with us, because we thought that would be really fun.
Speaker 1:And the family meetings don't have to be long, Like it doesn't have to be this big cumbersome thing. Like you can do it. We've done them in five minutes. You know they can be 15 minutes, they can be 30 minutes and then you can read the book and watch a show or whatever. Like they don't have to be some really drawn out thing.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it's like this week is really busy. Buckle in, we'll see you guys. Sunday, let's watch a show.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you would be proud of me because I wanted to say a lot more things.
Speaker 2:I know. Alright, guys, we'll catch you next week. Bye.