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Focal verse
“So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
Reflection
Every summer, the kids and I lather on sunscreen and make our annual trip to the blueberry field. In the car, we talk about all the years we’ve been going there. I remind them that I first came to this field before they were born. Later I picked blueberries with them in carriers and strollers. Eventually, I tell them, they were able to pick the berries by themselves. But now they get more in their mouths than in the bucket. The blueberry field is a place that helps connect our family and shows how much we’ve grown over the years.
To end our summers, we take a family camping trip. We’ve gone to the same campground every year since our kids started school. We have a favorite spot where we can walk to the water. We perfect our rock-skipping abilities. We feast on s’mores. We kayak. We reflect on our summer and share what we’re looking forward to with the coming school year. This trip is one we’ve all come to anticipate. It provides a marker for the changing season, helping us transition from summer to back-to-school routines.
In the life of faith, the church calendar orients us to the changing seasons and reminds us of God’s faithfulness. We walk through the rituals of each season (lighting candles for Advent, walking the stations of the cross, lighting the baptismal candle). We hear the same Bible stories year after year. Our families create their own memories of past holidays and worship services. We have our favorite hymns to sing for baptisms and first communions. We get to be part of God’s story.
Rituals and traditions in our families help connect us and provide a safe space for learning and growth. In our family, we have Friday pizza and movie night, followed by Saturday morning waffles. I make chocolate chip cookies for the first day of school. I mark the sign of the cross on each kid at bedtime.
What a grace to have special places and a church calendar to anchor us in our lives. To be able to mark our growth and the love we’ve shared. To relish the taste of freshly picked blueberries along with a taste of the goodness of God’s grace, year after year.
Practices
- Pick one day a week for a special time just for your family. Maybe it’s Sunday evening dinner and Bible story, Friday night pizza and movie, or Saturday morning devotions. Whatever it is, be as consistent as possible and relish the chance to be together as a family.
- Read Glenys Nellist’s “Bedtime Blessings” books with your children to remind them of God’s love. If you’re looking for a way to incorporate more blessings with your kids, this book is a helpful resource.
Prayer practice
Pray through music. Listen to contemporary Christian music or hymns and pay attention to the words. Make the music your prayer. Grab a hymnal from church and sing together over a meal or before bed. While you’re making dinner, play music together. Use your whole body to give thanks to God in movement, song and dance.
