‘Tis the season for vacations! Though perhaps in these COVID times, they are only virtual? But hopefully, you’ll have a chance this summer to spend time building family stories. You know; the sagas that start with: “Remember the time…”
Back in the days when we could go somewhere on vacation, you planned for it, right?
What about the other, oh-so-ordinary family-together-times?
- Meals around the dinner table?
- Trips to the grocery store, post office, and other mundane errands. Maybe not with the whole family but at least with you and the kids? (Thinking of pre-COVID days!)
- Chore time, reading time, or just hanging-out-together time.
All these seem pretty routine and ordinary. What about using them as a chance to build memories of a different sort?
Spiritual growth memories.
Can some intentionality be brought into play? (Let’s face it, raising kids takes a little bit of planning!) How about some of these ideas:
- Perhaps at the dinner table you play a game that leads to discussion? (Try this one or some of these.)
- Perhaps as a part of your next walk around the block, you allow a certain happenstance (every dog seen or every blue car) to spark the announcement of a grateful. And let that lead into talking about how being thankful is good for your health! (Read here for other family-friendly ways to practice gratitude.)
- Perhaps the next time you are chilling together you brainstorm a place in your home to remind you that God is near?
How are you using every day, even ordinary, non-vacation days, to intentionally work on building your family’s spiritual growth?
Photo credits…
A remember-when story in progress, copyright by my niece, Sarah Clouse. Used with permission.
Ordinary Time occurs from the day after Pentecost until the first Sunday in Advent. That’s a long time! It takes up the biggest chunk of the annual pie shown on the right. Incidentally, Pentecost is the smallest slice of the pie – it lasts only one day! (
Family Faith Companion 