But our invitation to thankfulness isn't limited to the month of October, nor is it constrained to within the walls of a church. In fact, our thankfulness ought to overflow into our homes and cars - and can become a joyful part of our parenting journey. We can thank our children. We can teach our children to thank others. And we can make a point of thanking God, too. Maybe a sheet of paper on the fridge. Maybe a paper chain that grows day by day. Maybe a journal, a thanks-jar, or even a 140 character tweet. When given the opportunity to name those things for which we are thankful, it might be surprising to see what makes the list. Perhaps we are thankful for a sold night sleep after a particularly hectic period of teething. Perhaps our children are thankful for their favourite meal or the song they loved which played on the radio. Or maybe, just maybe, the things for which we will truly give thanks are so much more! Give a try...and give thanks to God.
This year I challenged my congregation to purposefully commit themselves to being thankful throughout the month of October. To help with this challenge, I posted a large piece of chart paper at the front of the sanctuary with the simple instructions...fill it! And they did - with all of the many wonderful things for which we were thankful. For family and for friends. For music and for scripture. For the Maple Leafs (shudder), for the ocean, and even for chocolate.
But our invitation to thankfulness isn't limited to the month of October, nor is it constrained to within the walls of a church. In fact, our thankfulness ought to overflow into our homes and cars - and can become a joyful part of our parenting journey. We can thank our children. We can teach our children to thank others. And we can make a point of thanking God, too. Maybe a sheet of paper on the fridge. Maybe a paper chain that grows day by day. Maybe a journal, a thanks-jar, or even a 140 character tweet. When given the opportunity to name those things for which we are thankful, it might be surprising to see what makes the list. Perhaps we are thankful for a sold night sleep after a particularly hectic period of teething. Perhaps our children are thankful for their favourite meal or the song they loved which played on the radio. Or maybe, just maybe, the things for which we will truly give thanks are so much more! Give a try...and give thanks to God.
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I have long been of the opinion that first birthday parties are all about the parents. What one year old really cares about their birthday? As a result of this belief, for our daughter's first birthday, we decided to have a party for all the people who supported us in our first year as parents. We asked people to bring gifts for Canadian Lutheran World Relief instead of gifts for our daughter. We had a house full of friends and family, a puppet show for the kids, a huge chunk of cheese for our baby (her favourite food), and a gigantic mess to clean up afterwards. It was lovely, and it was bigger than anything I hope to host for our daughter's birthday ever again. The day was a reminder of the community that clothed our daughter in hand-me-downs and fed us in the months after her birth. The room was full of individuals who helped us get some sleep or just have an adult conversation while they held the baby. They made sure we had date nights, they shared their birth stories, and they encouraged us when the minutes of crying seemed like hours. This community is predominantly made up of people of faith - many of them Lutheran and many of them just good people who hang around with Lutherans. I am intensely grateful to have grownup with people that get 'community.' I suppose I believe that if we can teach our children to value community we might actually be able to change the world. So happy birthday little one - may your every sorrow and your every joy be in the arms of a loving community. How much time to do you spend in your car? Do you do pick and drop off and errands and, and, and? What if some of that time was a simple question that you shared with each other like where did you see God in action at school today? Was there someone that needed love today that you encountered today? If you have little ones who are maybe not in the speaking stage yet how about listening to some fun faith music or for older kids an audio book like chronicles of Narnia. We might as well make the best of the time we have in close quarters and have a little fun or listen to a little adventure as we are out and about! When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we were inundated with 'Advice'. It seemed that everyone had an opinion as to how our child was fed, what he wore, how he was soothed, when he should nap, how his room should be appointed, and so on. As new soon-to-be parents, this advice was welcomed with opened arms. Some of it was great advice - while other bits didn't fit our parenting style or lifestyle. But one thing was certain, each piece of advice - each tip and trick - was offered with love and care. It's been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, in my opinion the single best village in which to raise a child, is the church. And I'm not just saying this because I am a pastor. But rather, because I have seen firsthand the genuine love and heartfelt care that this community can offer- not only to a child, but also to their parents. It has been in this village that our child has been lovingly nurtured by dozens of grandparents, aunt, uncles, and cousins. It's in this village that we, as a family, have been held in prayer. In this village we have made mistakes. In this village we have sought assistance. And in this village we have found a solid place on which to build the foundation of our life as a family. The best part, is that this village has enough room for all. Whether you're gathering in a great city cathedral or a tiny country chapel - there is a place for you. There is a place for all. |
Joel CrouseArchives
December 2016
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