FOCUS ON THE FAMILY COMMENTARY - Clip #3

James C. Dobson - Broadcast Scripts - by Focus on the Family Malaysia

You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a meaningful family life. The key is to build traditions that give meaning to your time together. I'm Dr. James Dobson with Focus on the Family. You know, children love daily routines and activities of the simplest kind. They want to hear the same story a thousand times over or hear the same joke till you're ready to climb the wall. And yet, these interactions are sometimes more valuable in the minds of kids then are expensive toys or a special event. A friend of mine once asked his grown children what they remembered most fondly from their childhood. Was it the vacations they took or the trips to Disneyland or the zoo? "No," they answered. It was when dad got on the floor and wrestled with them. That's the way children think. The most meaningful activities in the family are often those simple interactions that build lasting bonds of love. Tradition is what it's all about. Those repetitive activities that give identity and belonging to every member of the family. In the broadway musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, remember that the fiddler was perched so securely on top of the house because of tradition. Tradition told every member of the community who he was, and how to deal with the demands of life. And it's still true today. I urge you to build your own traditions within your own family. It won't cost you much, but what you get back can't be measured in dollars. I'm Dr. James Dobson for Focus on the Family.

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