The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did now even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:30-31).
Jesus playing checkers? Well, maybe not, but that’s not beyond the realm of possibility. In Bible times, as today, people of the Middle East spent a lot of time playing checkers, backgammon, chess, and similar games.
In almost every excavation of ancient sites in the Middle East, gaming boards have been found. Board were often of limestone, divided into squares, and pebbles, small stones, bones or pieces of clay were used as gaming pieces. My guess is that even if Jesus and His disciples never touched a marble, their time away together was enjoyed, as they relaxed, told stories, fellowshipped, and dine together. Jesus knew the value of time spent with those He loved.
Hang Out, but Not in Front of the TV
Spending time with spouse, friends or family in conversation, playing games, or just hanging out is time well spent. This could mean some time in front of the tube watching a movie or sporting event, but most of the time TV time is wasted time. I am not just preaching to the choir here. I could be a serious TV addict myself.
Abundant research show that time in front of the TV equals inactivity, a fact that couch potatoes know and show full well! TV time also correlates with obesity, sleep problems, behavior problems in children and adolescents, including aggressiveness and violence. Consider these tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics that will help you tame that TV monster for your children or grandchildren:
- Limit TV viewing to one to two hours a day. No watching TV while doing homework.
- Don’t leave the TV on as background noise. Help your child decide which shows to watch, and turn on the TV for only those shows.
- Watch TV with your child, and talk about what you see. For very young children, explain the difference between commercials and TV shows. Explain the TV characters are not real.
- Be careful about what you watch in the presence of your child; news and other shows often contain violence.
- Talk about the messages TV shows are sending.
- Help your child learn to resist commercials. Explain that commercials are supposed to make people want things.
- Consider limiting your child’s viewing to public television programs or children’s videos.
- Don’t let TV become a habit. Help your child think of other things to do, such as playing, reading, or working on art projects.
- Practice what you preach. Limit your own TV viewing, and choose what you watch carefully.
- Be clear and consistent about the rules.
Too much TV and video-game time can actually affect brain development. Research has shown that cognitive learning is adversely affected with TV viewing, especially in children younger than three years. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that suggests that TV be limited in young children because of the increased risk of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Provide children books or ideas for fun activities. One good series of books for children is the “I Spy” collection by Jean Marzollo and WalterWick. Also checkout www.funattic.com. When TV viewing is limited, it gives children a chance to use their imaginations. What better than a large box for a rainy day!
For those adults who grew up with Howdy Doody, Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Rogers, TV addiction may not be a problem, but for our sports, soap opera, and reality TV culture, you can bet that more time could be spent developing our brains no matter what our age. For more ideas about giving the TV a boot, go to www.tvturnoff.org and www.limitv.org.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
