Posted on Feb 15, 2008 under Faith, Family |
These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe… so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2
My faith has been passed to me from my parents; their faith from their parents. I’ve brought my own children up in the same way. While some find their way to the Christian faith on their own, many of us pass our faith on to the next generation just as it was passed on to us.
For many years, I went through the motions of religion with my kids, taking them to Mass, having them baptized, and on through the sacraments. I didn’t really share my faith with them, though. I didn’t talk about the miracles in my life, the fact that I spoke with God regularly. My faith was personal and quiet and I wasn’t quite sure how to share it with my kids at first.
Somehow, I did learn to open up and talk more and more about my faith. I did learn to share with my children the importance of God in my life and how the Gospel was a part of my day-to-day living. Yesterday, my second son called and asked me to pray for him regarding an issue. He called a few hours later to thank me, because things did work out.
I realized how important it was that I shared my faith with my kids and let them see God’s hand in my life. I realized, too, that my children would be passing along to their own children that same faith. Our faith in God is a most precious heritage.
Posted on Feb 08, 2008 under Family |
Be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
How often are we more polite, more patient, with total strangers than we are with our own families? How many times in a day do we snap at our children or spouses? Why are we more careful to smile at a fellow shopper at the grocery store than at our own family members?
I’m so guilty of this that it’s shameful. I’ve caught myself losing my patience with one of the kids or being really annoyed at my husband and then suddenly, when the phone rings, my voice is all sweetness. I don’t know who is on the other end of that phone but I’m still kinder and more considerate of this unknown person than those I live with and love with all my heart.
It’s obvious that we tend to forget our manners with our families because these are our “safe” people. We know that we’re loved and we don’t have to try to win them over. And yet, these are the people who deserve the best treatment possible because they do love us.
I’m pretty sure that the message I send my kids through my actions is not the same message that comes out of my mouth. I need to remember how important these people in my family are and treat them with all the love and patience that God has for me.
Posted on Jan 04, 2008 under Family |
But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
Sometimes I feel like I’ve failed my family.
We women often set a tone in our homes that the rest of the family follow. No matter what’s going on around here, if I’m unhappy, the rest of the family senses that and follows suit. I think families tend to follow mom’s lead in priorities, too.
I attribute my own spirituality to my mom’s example throughout my life. Serving God was important to her so it naturally became important to me. I’ve just not been as vocal about my faith as my mom was.
I never really pushed my kids to go to church and I probably don’t give a very good example of living a Christian life, either. I curse, I say mean things, I sometimes behave badly. I miss Mass. I didn’t make God, church or spirituality a priority in my family and now my kids are very lackadaisical about their faith. In this way, I have failed my family.
I must set my priorities and share them with my kids. It’s never too late to do the right thing so I’m going to begin today to do the right thing. I want my family to feel the love of God that I do. It’s time to turn this family around and set our priorities right.
