Mind the Important Things

Our son, Braxton, loves to play his video games.  Especially Mario!  We carefully select the games we play for content and have a time limit each day.  We try to make sure he understands why we do these things the way we do, but sometimes it takes a while for a child to understand the value or their parent's teaching (especially an energetic, enthusiastic 5-year-old!)

Last night, the issue came to a head.  Braxton was playing Mario, and his Mom called him to quickly get a wet washcloth because Aarilyn had made a mess.  Braxton's attention was consumed by his game.  Jana had to call him several times (though he knows to respond and obey the first time). Even when he went to do the job, he was so distracted by his desire to return to his game that he did not pay attention to his task.  It took longer than it should and was done sloppily.  Needless to say, Mommy did not get her wet washcloth 'quickly' by any stretch of the imagination.

Braxton knew what was expected of him, and didn't follow through.  There had to be a consequence:  The game was turned off immediately and his time for the day forfeited.

Make no mistake, discipline isn't (and even shouldn't be) easy, much less enjoyable.  My son wept over his lost game time.  I do not like to see my child cry or disappointed.  It was easy to be tempted to let him return to his game.  But the discomfort of the moment was not as important as the lesson that must be learned.

We sat down to talk with my (highly valued) son to explain why:
The games are unimportant.  Especially when compared to his Mom and sister, which are truly important.

This is part of an ongoing conversation with my son about the things that are truly important, and the things that are not.

God, family, health, friends, and people in general are truly important.
Games, phones & tablets, any kind of entertainment, self-fulfillment (or selfishness), etc. are not.
It shouldn't even be a contest.

It is for this reason that his time with electronics is limited to about 30 minutes.  To help my son (who cannot do this for himself... yet) to learn how to keep a right balance in his life.  When the unimportant things become more important than the truly important things, we always lose.

But children are not the only ones that struggle with the important and unimportant.  We, as adults, labor to keep our life properly evaluated and rightly balanced.  And in this balance, the trivial does not get to share with the paramount a 50%-50% split.  Many times, it must be a 90%-10% or better.  This is a critical part of maturity.

Mario isn't 'bad' (I rather like Mario myself!)  But even in the most innocent of self-indulgences, I need to be mindful of the important.  To keep selfless over self.  To keep the truly important, truly important.  God, Family, Health, Responsibilities, Friends, Community.  Then the rest can have what's left over. When the unimportant becomes more important than the truly important, we always lose.

1 Corinthians 6:12 "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."