Yesterday’s news reported that gangs are getting a foothold in suburban neighborhoods.  The gangs are attracting members from homes that look attractive and well-kept to passers-by but house dysfunctional families and absentee parents.  Kids need emotional attachment and if dad and mom don’t give it, they dumbly attach themselves to gangs.

Like many other modern problems, we’ve brought it upon ourselves because we let others dictate how we spend our time.  On this date in 1883 the United States and Canada adopted a unified system of standard time zones.  Good.  Not good is assuming that time is standard for all people.  It’s not.  “There is a time for everything,” says Ecclesiastes 3:1 and each of us is in a different time of life.  Parents are in a time to put away their own pursuits and give time, quantity and quality time, to the kids.  When they’re grown and gone, dad and mom can pick up again with their own life. 

A modern heresy is that time is ours.  It’s not.  Time is God’s.  It’s one of His ways to position us in our relationship to Him and to His other children.  “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).  When was the last time you wasted some time with family?