As a parent of two young kids,
I have become particularly grateful for a concept called the 10-minute miracle.
The 10-minute miracle is when you spend 10 minutes of undivided and unstructured time with your child.
Many mental health professionals and child psychologists have used research to show that when parents give their child this type of attention,
The child experiences improved self-esteem,
Cooperation,
And connection with their parent.
In addition,
This intentional presence reduced incidents of anxiety,
Depression,
And the frequency for the need of discipline.
Essentially the 10-minute miracle shows that this form of active attending strengthens the attachment between the child and the parent.
The result of this is that the child is less inclined to seek self-gratifying attention with inappropriate behavior.
And what's fascinating is that this is true for more than just the parent-child relationship.
Ten minutes of active attending in any relationship deepens the bond by fostering authentic,
Emotionally engaged connection.
A common exercise for couples experiencing emotional distance is to take 10 minutes every day to actively listen to their partner.
The purpose is not to fix,
Change,
Or even respond,
But to attend to the emotional state of their partner by holding a presence of withness.
This 10-minute miracle is the basis for our times together.
As we take 10 minutes of uninterrupted time to open ourselves up to the presence of God,
We attend to our souls in a way that creates long-lasting transformation.
As we hold a posture of active listening,
We gift ourselves the opportunity to hear the words of sages,
Sojourners,
And scripture writers and seek their wisdom for our lives.
My prayer is that through this process,
We will sense a greater connection to the things that matter.
So thank you for being a part of this journey and experiencing this experiment with me.
Grace and peace to you.
