| |
Family Activities for Faith Maturity
Recent research from the Search Institute has concluded that there are three family activities that, above all else, empower young people to a sense of owned and mature faith. In fact, young people are twice as likely to live their own faith and participate in church when they do these activities.
Family Faith Conversations
Hearing about their parents’ faith journeys is one of the most important influences on the faith of children and teenagers. Open-ended discussions on relevant and controversial issues create an atmosphere for dialogue and growth. While it’s important for parents to know just how they stand on a given issue, it’s just as important to allow for a variety of opinions.
Family Ritual and Devotion
This activity is a bit more structured and intentional. Families who pray together…even when they don’t do the rituals particularly well…tend to have higher faith maturity. Do you know the difference between habit and ritual? Reflection. Take some time to reflect on your daily, weekly and seasonal habits, and you’ll likely discover some opportunities for family ritual.
Family Service Projects
Faced with so many problems of their own, many families are not motivated to serve others. Yet acts of selfless mercy can transform woes into healing and bring help to those in greater need. There is no more powerful influence of faith and family unity than working together to help others. When your family engages in these faith maturing activities, you are providing the key experiences that empower your children to make a mature faith choice.
These home-based activities won’t guarantee your children will be faithful Christians — nothing will. But at least you’ll be giving them the best foundation to do so.
Try These Faith Maturing Activities
Family Faith Conversations
Take time to listen and share. What’s the talkative time of day for your child?
With teens in the house, ask for their opinion on key issues of our time, such as homosexuality, military intervention in foreign countries, MTV, etc. Let them give their opinion first, and really listen before giving yours. Allow doubts and different opinions to be expressed.
Be willing to be questioned about your own views and beliefs.
Invite family members to recall a time when they felt as though God actually heard and answered their prayers. Give each person a chance to tell this experience.
Tell and read good stories together.
Family Ritual and Devotion
Initiate at least one annual religious ritual in your family each year.
Give your family rituals time, space and planning.
Share responsibility for ritual among all family members.
Try this simple exchange when leaving the house in the morning: Parent: “This is the day the Lord has made.” Child: “I will rejoice and be glad.”
On the evening before the first day of school in the fall, have the children gather all their new supplies, books, etc. Say a simple blessing over these, asking God to bless them as instruments of learning for each child.
Family Service Projects
Start close to home. Run an errand for a house-bound neighbor. Shovel the snow or cut the grass for the person next door. These little kindnesses go a long way to create good will in the neighborhood.
Many parishes offer the opportunity to deliver food once-a-month or so to needy families through the local St. Vincent de Paul chapter. Check it out in your community.
Look for family-friendly opportunities to engage in works of mercy and justice. When considering a particular opportunity, ask yourself: Is it something children can also do and learn from?
Do “with” instead of “for.” Respect the dignity of others. Learn from those you hope to serve.
Integrate fun whenever possible.
These two short articles were written by Leif Kehrwald for HomeWord, and are reprinted with permission. HomeWord had been published by Family Faith-Life Resources of Saint Mary’s Press. For more information on Family Faith-Life Resources, visit St. Mary’s Press at www.smp.org.
|
