Creating Lent & Easter Memories Part V
This post is last in a Lenten series of articles designed to help families create ways to deepen their faith practices for themselves and for their children. If you missed these articles and would like to learn more about creative ways to share Lent and Easter memories with your family visit our website at www.firstchristianchurchparis.org. These ideas are originally part of the work of Dr. David W. Sharrard, retired professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Lexington Theological Seminary.
Here are this week’s ideas from Dr. David W. Sharrard (paraphrased):
These suggestions are meant to use the season of Lent to teach children and young people the necessary skills for self-management and cooperation with others. We are focusing on relationships with loved ones, neighbors and God. We have brought together a few long-held religious practices, offering specific skills that we call the ABC’s of Spirituality. First we need to pay ATTENTION (A) to ourselves and others. Then we need to find a BALANCE (B) between our inner selves and others’ claims on our lives. Lastly, we seek CONNECTIONS (C) utilizing two skills: COMPASSION and CARING.
This is done through regular family meetings. Suggested time frame is 10-15 minutes, though older children might be able to expand to longer intervals.
Being part of a healthy family takes effort. This is also true being part of the family of God. This week’s focus requires us to develop two skills for COMPASSION: CONNECTING and CARING. CARING is being observant and attuned to others—how they feel, what they need, and desire. Are they happy, sad, hurting, afraid, or excited about something? Caring requires listening and communication skills. Parents can be helpful by modeling caring behaviors. Caring creates trust, which is the glue of any relationship.
Week 6—Light a candle as a symbol of your time together if you have already begun this practice for your meeting time. Read Ephesians 4:32-5:1 then ask each person to share an event from the week where they felt cared for.
Now, ask each person to contribute a story where they felt hurt or neglected…it can be at any point in time, not just in the past week. Ask some leading questions such as these:
- What did this hurt feel like?
- Did you get over these hurt feelings?
- How did you get over these feelings?
- Were you able to forgive the person who hurt you?
- How did you manage to forgive, if you did?
- What did Jesus teach us about forgiving others?
Now, practice a Loving-Kindness meditation. Explain that loving-kindness can facilitate openness to oneself and to others, while reducing stress and increasing well-being. There are health benefits, as well, and research shows that our brains are actually being rewired when strive to do acts of loving-kindness.
Ask each person to close their eyes and think of a loving, caring, kind person. Practice slow, deep, even breaths while you focus and pray these blessings. Now, as you each visualize this person, repeat these phrases:
- May you be happy.
- May you know peace.
- May you be free from pain and suffering.
Then, place your hand over your heart until you find the spot where you can feel it beating within your chest. Now, imagine this same person you imagined wishing those same sentiments for you…repeat the phrases.
Finally, one by one, lift up a family member and recite these blessings aloud together as you feel your own heartbeat. When you have finished lifting up each family member and praying blessings for them, share with one another what this experience of prayer together felt like. Ask each participant to share one thing they enjoyed about this practice.
Close by joining hands and praying the Lord’s Prayer together and extinguish the candle. You may want to spend a few moments processing how everyone felt about this intentional faith-forming family time. It may be that you have a new family tradition, or a new dedication to praying together on a regular basis.
May these ideas become dedicated practices for your family for a lifetime.
Blessings,
Tracy