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Key Bible Verse: "Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given" (Mark 4:24). Bonus Reading: Matthew 13:12-16

It is important to do more than just say "How was your day?" to your daughter when you get home. Ask her a series of questions, and you'll often find out all about her day in the process.

I might ask Laura, our ten-year-old, "So tell me everybody you talked to during recess today." Such a question requires thought, and is harder to dismiss or dodge, than a "How was your day?"

I might also use the dinnertime favorite, "Tell me your high and low today." Meaning, tell me what was the best and the worst thing that happened.

Or ask, "What kind of 'weather' day was it today with your friends? Rainy? Sunny?" It helps to give children a way to picture their day instead of just talking about how they feel about it. A rainy day might be one where your daughter walked up to a circle of classmates and they all stopped talking or walked away. A sunny day might describe getting an unexpectedly high grade or having a banner day playing basketball against the boys at recess.

Don't settle for just a "nod" before turning to "more important" matters. You'll often find that on the second or third query, she'll finally open up about something well worth discussing.

—John Trent in Dad's Everything Book for Daughters

My Response: A question that a child of mine has responded to is …

Thought to Apply:Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention. —Rachel Remen

Adapted from Dad's Everything Book for Daughters (Zondervan, 2002) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me learn ways to interact with my children that go beyond surface conformity to heart motivation.

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