Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Do you want to deepen your relationships with your children? Then tune in to today's Home School Heartbeat, with Mike Smith and author Zan Tyler.

Mike Smith:
Zan, what is intimacy, and why is it important in the parent-child relationship?

Zan Tyler:
You know, Mike, intimacy is very simple. It means togetherness, fellowship, and communion, as well as the ability to enjoy a shared set of values and goals. It also means that we have to be willing to make ourselves known to others, and they reveal themselves to us. I think it's important because intimacy is obviously what God is after in relationships. If we look to Scripture, we realize that even Jesus' name, "Emmanuel," means "God with us." God is not interested in the same things we're interested in in life, in our frenetic culture. It's not about success, and it's not about outward gain, but it is about being able to develop a child's life and develop within him a real sense of belonging. In my book I talk about four tools that we can use—time, personal presence, conversation, and physical affection—to develop this intimacy with our children. And I think we can conversely look at kids today, how alienated and depressed they are, to know that we've failed miserably as a society in cultivating this intimacy. As Christian parents, if we want to be ahead of the game, we need to teach our children that we love them and they're extremely essential in the world.

Mike:
Zan, that's a great reminder. That's the best socialization.

Zan:
Amen!

Mike:
And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.