RECLAIMING MOMENTS

RECLAIMING MOMENTS
Tuesday, May 26, 2026 by DR. MEL TAVARES

Categories: devotional / GUEST AUTHORS / TUESDAY'S TREASURE

PLEASE WELCOME

DR. MEL TAVARES

TUESDAY’S TREASURE

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home…” Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NIV)

I remember the years when life felt like one long car ride. One child needed to be at practice by 5:00. Another had Awana at church at 6:00. Another picked up from the after-school math help class. Somewhere in between, homework needed finishing, uniforms needed washing, and dinner needed to happen. Too often, “family dinner” looked like homemade sandwiches wrapped in napkins and handed into the backseat while I drove from one activity to another.

At the time, I told myself we were doing what good parents do: giving our children opportunities, experiences, and every possible advantage. But looking back, I sometimes wonder what we quietly sacrificed in the process.

When I began to understand Deuteronomy 6, I made changes. God told parents to teach their children “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road.”

The instruction wasn’t about creating perfect families.

It was about creating connected families.

Faith, values, identity, and legacy are often built in ordinary moments around the dinner table, not just in organized activities and crowded schedules.

In a culture obsessed with speed,

choosing to slow down and connect

may be perceived as a radical act.

Today’s culture rewards movement. Busy schedules are often worn like badges of honor. Families rush from work to sports, from practices to performances, from appointments to screens, convincing themselves that constant activity equals success. Yet somewhere in all the motion, many families quietly lose the very thing they are trying to build—a deep connection. Children may have full calendars but empty conversations. Parents may provide opportunities while unintentionally sacrificing presence. Everyone lives under the same roof, yet meaningful moments together become rare.

God’s design for family has always looked different. Scripture repeatedly points to relationships being built in ordinary, unhurried moments—sitting together, walking together, eating together, talking together. Jesus Himself was never frantic, even when surrounded by enormous needs. He stopped for people. He noticed people. He listened. He made individuals feel seen and valued.

In “Make Families Great Again,” I talk about how families today are malnourished in the connection zone, even while spending enormous amounts of time in motion. We have mastered activity, but many families have lost the art of connecting. Being in the same vehicle, scurrying to and fro, is just not the same thing. What every family member is starving for is shared meals, unhurried conversations, and laughter around a table.

Maybe tonight isn’t about creating a perfect meal. Maybe it’s simply about reclaiming a moment. Put the phones down. Sit together. Ask questions. Listen carefully. Pray together.

The little moments families repeat consistently

often become the memories and values children carry for generations.

MORE ABOUT MAKING FAMILIES GREAT AGAIN

American families are in crisis, and Christian households are not exempt from the crisis. This book does a deep dive into research and gives 2025 data on what is happening in families, in schools, and on the Internet. There is a mental health crisis amongst today's youth, including those being raised in good homes and in church. Readers will find answers on how to respond to the challenges of today's youth culture. Numerous resources are listed, including podcasts, books, and websites.

Per Pam and Bill Farrel, directors of Love-Wise Ministries:

"Make Families Great Again" by Dr. Mel Tavares is a beautifully balanced blend of biblical wisdom, solid scientific research, and practical life application. With clarity and compassion, Dr. Tavares equips parents with thought-provoking insights that are both timeless and timely. This well-researched and refreshingly down-to-earth volume offers real solutions for today’s families. I highly recommend it to every parent seeking to build a strong, healthy home.”

Sandra Kay, Chambers, Founder of the Five-Minute Parenting Podcast, says:

"Dr. Tavares shares many statistics and real-life stories on the detrimental effects of our rat-race lifestyles, our declining public school education, internet influences, youth culture, etc. But she also offers parents hope despite these
obstacles by giving them ways to counteract the negative influences. As a parent, grandparent, and former teacher myself, I highly recommend this book as a resource and guide to help parents navigate today’s cultural challenges."

BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Make-Families-Great-Again-Tavares/dp/B0F8W35WQK/

MORE ABOUT DR. MEL TAVARES

Dr. Mel Tavares is an award-winning author of books, articles, devotionals, and short stories. She is the Acquisitions and Managing Editor of Arise Daily, a digital daily devotional and 2025 recipient of the Award of Excellence given by the Evangelical Press Association (EPA). Dr. Mel is also the recipient of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) 2025 National Member of the Year award.

Mel holds a Doctor of Ministry and has 35 years of experience working with families in education, rehabilitation, and ministry. Mel is a frequent event speaker and media guest.

Her latest book release, ‘Make Families Great Again’, is being used as a tool to sound the trumpet across America, alerting parents and grandparents to the truths of today’s youth culture. The book was awarded first place at the 2026 Christian Indie Awards, held in Alabama.

Mel is aligning her messages with America's 250th birthday, and she welcomes opportunities to speak and help parents and grandparents decode today’s youth culture and develop action steps to protect their families.

She and her husband live in Middletown, Connecticut. They have seven adult children and eleven grandchildren.

Resources can be found on her website: https://www.drmeltavares.com/ or you can email her directly at drmeltavares@gmail.com

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