28 Nov Growing Faith at Home
Christmas – just say the word and we all have different reactions. So often we race through December, checking the boxes and frantically trying get it all done. (I love to say that perfection is the enemy of done!)
I love to SAY it. Putting it into practice is harder.
Christmas with little ones brings a whole different measure of energy, love, and busy-ness. From a faith perspective – honestly, you just can’t beat it. Children grow in faith awhen they are part of a community that has annual traditions they can count on. They form memories about last year’s tree, carols, cookies, and yes, presents.
The story of Christ’s birth provides one of the best ways for children to “find themselves” in God’s story. (Whenever we read, and whatever we read, we naturally place ourselves in the story: we relate to the characters, we respond to the emotions.) And the “characters” in the story of Christ’s birth – the shepherds, donkeys, angels and babies, provide amazing entry points for faith conversations.
The season of Advent doesn’t have to be hurried, and if you slow down to mark this time of preparation with your children, you will be planting seeds of faith that will grow bigger every year. Luminaries in the field of faith development have narrowed down four “keys” – four foundational pieces that, if woven gradually into the life of your family, will grow the faith of your family.
We want to give you these “keys” in a short and easy format below, so that you can take advantage of this amazing opportunity to deepen the faith of your family as you enter this time of preparation. But first….please remember to take care of yourself. Take time to hydrate and breathe….or just sit still. And THEN think (and pray) about how you can weave some of these “keys to the faith” into your family’s Advent season. These fall under the “4 keys to growing faith” listed on our website, too. Click here for specific ways to bring faith into your family traditions.
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