The Family that Plays Together

Wilson, my younger son, and I hit the gym together this morning. I swam backstroke for 40 minutes in one lane while he swam freestyle in another. It’s always nice to have a gym buddy, and Wil’s presence always pushes me to work a little harder than I would otherwise.

Working together to accomplish important tasks is an immensely biblical idea. Jesus healed a paralytic who had been brought to him by four friends (Mark 2:1-12). When Jesus sent out the 72 (or 70, depending on what textual reading you accept), he sent them out two by two (Luke 10:1). “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

I’ve had several gym buddies through the years. Brian Reagan, Dennis Hudgins, and Joey Dixon first introduced me to the gym when we were students at International Bible College. Todd Curry and Clint Madden often accompanied me when I lived in West Virginia. But, I must confess, having my teenage son as a gym buddy is far sweeter.

I value the time Wil and I spend at the gym together. We share a healthy activity. We talk on the way to and from the gym. It’s time he and I have together all by ourselves.

Here are some ideas of healthy activities you can share with your children:

1. Take a hike together.
2. Coach your kids’ little league team.
3. Plan healthy meals together.
4. Throw a football in the yard.
5. Find a bike trail and go for a ride.
6. Take a martial arts class together.
7. Go canoeing.
8. Play hide-and-seek.
9. Enter a 10k walk/run together.
10. Hit baseballs in the batting cage.
11. Fly kites together.
12. Have a fishing competition and see who can reel in the biggest catch.
13. See who can kick a soccer ball the furthest.
14. Make up your own game.
15. Have a no television/computer week.

Spend time with your kids. Teach them healthy habits. Teach them the value of staying physically fit. Get out there and show them how it’s done!

God bless!