Slow: Children at Play
Most of us, at some point, have driven past a caution sign that reads, “Slow: Children at Play.” Obviously, it serves as a reminder to stay alert and vigilant, as children may be playing near the road. While the sign is posted for their safety, I also believe it carries a deeper message—not just to slow down on the road, but to slow down in life.
This past week, I took my kids to Westgate Park to play and enjoy the nice weather. I told them that after they were done playing, I would take them to the library. Not too long ago, they could have spent hours at the park, but as they’ve grown older, that has changed. Monkey bars lose their appeal when your feet can touch the ground, and sliding down a slide only slightly taller than yourself is no longer as thrilling as it once was.
The reality is that we must take those words to heart: Slow. Children at Play. We need to slow down in our busy lives, recognize that our children will only be “at play” for a short time, and be present for them during these formative years. It’s not just about ensuring their safety—it’s about making sure they know they are loved.
Scripture instructs us to nurture and guide our children in Christian discipline. Ephesians 6:4 urges parents to bring up their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Psalm 127:3-4 states, “Children are an inheritance from the LORD. They are a reward from Him. The children born to a man when he is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior” (GWT). Paul also wrote to Titus, instructing older Christian women to teach younger women to be loving wives and mothers and to care for their families (Titus 2:3-5). Time and again, the Bible emphasizes the importance of nurturing and guiding one’s household—beyond just providing physical nourishment and financial stability.
A child, as the Psalmist depicts, is a precious heirloom from the Lord, meant to be cherished, and a pliable arrow to be directed toward a greater purpose. We have only one opportunity to aim them in the right direction. If we focus solely on feeding them and showering them with material possessions, have we truly prepared them for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)?
Be there for them. Listen to them. Love them. Seek to lead them in the way of understanding (Proverbs 9:6). And above all, learn to slow down—because for only a short time, your children are at play.
