Family Time
Focus! Focus!
The busiest time of the year is almost upon us. Do you feel like your family is being drawn into a cyclone of ever-increasing activities, shopping, and more? Do you find yourself dealing with endless lists of things to be done?
Like a camera, we need to be focused at this time of the year. Look for things that your family can do together do keep your focus God/Jesus.
Make up games that help family members concentrate on things they are thankful for. Discuss one each day throughout the month of November. (suggestions include):
- List at least one thing you are thankful for about each member of your family (avoid duplications)
- List at least one family activity that made you happy
- List at least one non- family member who blesses your life (perhaps set up categories-- extended family, friend, church, school, etc.)
- List ways God has blessed your life.
Check this link for an example.
Focus on Thanks-living. Develop an attitude of daily thankfulness for the blessings God bestows. Extend your focus past the obvious. David Jennings (of Children’s Ministry magazine) suggests “carry around a small notebook every day and write down thank-you notes to God-anything that comes to mind...This exercise will train your heart and being thankful will soon come naturally. At the end of each day, go back to your notebook and once again give thanks to God for the things he's given and thanks to Jesus for the freedom we have to enjoy it.”
Give gifts of service. Work individually or in family units to find ways to bless others. Help others focus on thankfulness. Develop a habit of completing random acts of kindness. Attempt to complete acts in secret. Make sure the focus is not “me” or “us” but on others.
Secret pals – have each family member choose a secret pal from outside the family. Have members systematically shower their secret pal with cards, small gifts, or services anonymously.
Make a list of Bible verses that focus on thankfulness to God. Teams of family members might compete to see how many they can find a period of time. At the end of the time period, score verses that have only been found by one of the teams.
For more ideas, check out this link or look for others that promote focus on God/Jesus.