Devotionals by Dr. James Dobson
Spelling Test
Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:18
Writer Jeannie Williams tells a story about a five-year-old named Joey, who was asked by his kindergarten teacher to draw a picture of something he loved. He drew his family, then took a crayon and colored a red circle around the stick figures. He wanted to write a word at the top of the picture, so he approached his teacher’s desk. “Teacher,” he asked, “how do you spell—” Before he could finish the question, the teacher told him to sit down and not interrupt the class. Joey folded the paper and stuck it in his pocket.
When Joey got home, he saw his mother preparing supper. “Mom,” he asked, “how do you spell—” She cut him off with, “Joey, can’t you see I’m busy right now? Why don’t you go outside and play?”
That evening, Joey approached his father. “Daddy, how do you spell—” His father interrupted without looking up from his newspaper. “Joey, I’m reading right now. Why don’t you go outside and play?”
It was more than twenty years later when Joey—now Joe—sat with his five-year-old daughter, Annie, in his lap. They were looking and laughing at a picture she had drawn of their family. Suddenly, Annie jumped up and ran into the kitchen. She returned a moment later with a pencil and positioned it over the top of the picture.
“Daddy,” she asked. “How do you spell love?”
Joe looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he gently gathered Annie in his arms and guided her hand as she formed each letter. “Love,” he said, “is spelled T-I-M-E.”
Don’t you agree with Joe? When we tell our children that we love them, the words carry a hollow ring unless we back them up “with actions and in truth.” God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us. He cares for us so deeply that He makes Himself available to us every moment through prayer. Our loving Lord is always ready to spend time with His children. When our own kids seek us out, we must be ready and willing to do the same.
- Shirley M. Dobson
Illustration adapted from “Circle of Love” by Jeannie S. Williams. © 1998.
Listen to today's broadcast of Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk at OnePlace.com. For more from Dr. Dobson, visit the resource center at drjamesdobson.org.
This devotional is taken from Night Light for Parents. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
About Family Talk
Family Talk is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served millions of families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms.
The Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI) is a Christian non-profit organization located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Founded initially as Family Talk in 2010 by Dr. James Dobson, the ministry promotes and teaches biblical principles that support marriage, family, and child-development. Since its inception, Family Talk has served families with broadcasts, monthly newsletters, feature articles, videos, blogs, books, and other resources available on demand via its website, mobile apps, and social media platforms. In 2017, the ministry rebranded under JDFI to expand its four core ministry divisions consisting of Family Talk, the Dobson Policy and Education Centers, and the Dobson Digital Library.
Dr. Dobson's flagship program, "Family Talk," is aired on more than 1,300 terrestrial radio outlets and numerous digital channels that reach millions of people each month.
About Dr. James Dobson
Dr. James Dobson is the Founder and President of Family Talk, a nonprofit organization that produces his radio program, "Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk." He is the author of more than 30 books dedicated to the preservation of the family, including The New Dare to Discipline, Love for a Lifetime, Life on the Edge, Love Must Be Tough, The New Strong-Willed Child, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Bringing Up Boys, Marriage Under Fire, Bringing Up Girls, Head Over Heels and, most recently, Your Legacy: The Greatest Gift.
Dr. Dobson served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine for 14 years and on the attending staff of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for 17 years. He has been active in governmental affairs and has advised five U.S. presidents on family matters. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (1967) in the field of child development. He holds 17 honorary doctoral degrees, and was inducted in 2008 into The National Radio Hall of Fame. Dr. Dobson recently received the following awards: Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award from the Faith & Freedom Coalition (2017), Daniel Award from AZ Christian University (2016), and the Defender of Life Award from the Justice Foundation (2015).
Dr. Dobson is married to Shirley and they have two grown children, Danae and Ryan, and two grandchildren. The Dobsons reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Contact Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson
540 Elkton Drive
Suite 201
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
877.732.6825