Today is the 25th installment of 30 days of resources for your family to use to grow together. Each of our daily activities will have the following pieces:
- PLAY TOGETHER: An opportunity to have fun and do something together instead of watching Netflix.
- TALK TOGETHER: Around the dinner table or just two of you sitting on the back porch, take turns asking these questions to learn more about the other.
- ORIENT TOGETHER: In time of need we have an opportunity to renew our vision for Jesus, and pray for His work in our life and world.
We hope these resources are helpful to you as a family. Feel free to share with others as well!
Pass The Aux: We all know that our music taste is the best, but what about the other folks in your family? Grab a speaker and your phones, vinyls, cassettes or whatever else you have and take turns playing songs for each other. Share what you like about each song before you play it, and then give everyone else a chance to share what they think afterwards, too. Go around and let everyone share their favorites. Who knows, you may find something new to enjoy!
- What Is the thing that you are most excited to do when things go back to normal?
- What are some similar things that we can do together at home to help you wait?
- Why do you think it’s so hard for us to wait on the things that we want the most?
I have a confession to make. I go to the movies more than anyone should. I’m not even picky about what I see. I just love going to the movies. The popcorn and soda. The big screen in the dark theater. It’s all just such a fun experience. Unfortunately, that’s not an option right now. And the more that I think about it, even when we do get the all clear, is it wise of me to go sit in a crowded room for a few hours? I’m not the most patient person in the world, but the more I think about it, the patience that I’m going to need after I can leave the house is just as important as the patience that I’m having to use now.
Read Luke 15:11-24
The parable of the prodigal son is a well known parable about the love the Father has for His children, even when we go astray, but I want to think about it a little differently as we look from quarantine.
We don’t know what made the younger son feel the need to set off from his home. It could’ve been anything. But we do know that he took all that he had and left. I think we’ll be in a pretty similar place when our doors are plowed to be open again. So he sets out and Scripture tells us that he “squandered his wealth in wild living”. He made unwise decision after unwise decision in his new found “freedom” and ended up hurting himself in the long run.
As I think through our situations, I can’t help but wonder: what are we going to do with our rediscovered freedom after all of this is over? Are we going to squander what we have by making unwise decisions or are we going to take a patient measured approach to the new normal that we find on the other side?
Being patient is hard. It’s not natural within us, but the Spirit grows it through His power. We all know that we have to be patient now as we wait in our homes, but we have to consider the patience that is going to be needed afterwards as well. Now is the time to begin praying not just for patience in waiting, but for patience after waiting. Patience as we seek to make wise decisions about our new normal. Patience as we take well measured steps into the other side of this strange time.
I think we should take a cue from the prodigal son on this one. When he realized what he was doing wasn’t helpful, he decided that the best move was to go back to his father. It’s my prayer for us all that we can skip the unwise decisions that the prodigal son made in our journeys, but instead resolve to return to Father. Measure each new step into the world on the other side of this by asking which step is going to bring me closer to God. Seek to follow the path that He has laid before us out of our front doors and into, not the places that we miss most, bu the places that He needs us to be.
You’ll see me at the movies eventually, but I think I’ll have more important things to do first.
Pray:
Almighty God. You have a plan for each of us, and we are just working our way through as it unfolds. We pray today that you would grow patience in us not just for the now, but for the after. May we patiently move out from this time when it is safe following your will and not our wants. We love you, and we thank you for all that you are. Amen.
Today’s Family Resource for Growing Together is written by Justin Hall, a youth pastor in Lexington, SC.
MODGNIK 