Torch, Winter 1985

What are the first thoughts that enter your mind when you think of family devotions? Memories of home? Special times of sharing? A good time of learning? As a husband and father, I have to admit that when I thought about the responsibility of training my children my thoughts reflected personal guilt, inadequacy, and sorrow . The ideal scene - the mom and dad on the couch , and the children hanging on every word - just did not happen in my futile attempts . I struggled with how to start, what to say, whether to use a scripture passage or devotional book, what time would be best. Never finding a convenient time, being unable to adjust to the differing ages of my children to keep their attention, and (I must confess) lacking the personal discipline necessary all made family devotions something to be put on the back burner. As my children continued to grow, however, I noticed something happening that began to demand my 9