Pointing Your Family to Jesus in Traditions & Unplanned Moments

     It's Saturday morning. A beam of sunlight sneaks through a crack between the curtains, and my family is up. We head out the door, snug in our hooded sweatshirts and jeans as the crisp fall air hits our lungs. When we arrive, we stand in line for almost an hour. People catch up with old friends as they wait. Everyone is in a good mood, especially considering how early it is. My wife, my son, and I finally reach the front of the line and are rewarded with our prize - a styrofoam plate piled high with sausage links and pumpkin pancakes.

     Year after year, the Morton Pumpkin Festival pancake breakfast is an event we don't miss. This is a tradition years in the making. More than getting a plate full of good food, we go for the memories and connections we make over pancakes. We all have traditions in our families that bring us together. But how can we make the most of those moments to point our families to Jesus?

Traditions

     Your family already has more traditions than you probably realize. Think about how you celebrate holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, 4th of July, Memorial Day - you probably do something special to celebrate these days. What about the different seasons? What family activities do you enjoy during the fall? Summer? Winter? Spring? How does your family commemorate birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, marriages, or other milestones?

     You don't need to completely overhaul your family plans to point to Jesus in the midst of them. Setting aside a moment to pray as a family during your gathering is a natural way to remember God's faithfulness and blessings. For holidays like Christmas and Easter, break out the Bible after your meal and read the Gospel stories. Have a few family members share a memory of a time when the birthday girl reminded them of Jesus. Whatever the event, you can find some new ways to prioritize your family's commitment to become more like Christ.

Unplanned Moments

     Ok, so maybe you have some new ideas to point your family to Jesus in your traditions. But what about all the other days of the year? How can you continue to lead your family in discipleship when it isn't Christmas, Easter, or your kid's birthday?

     There is no app, shortcut, or cheat-sheet to make sure you take advantage of every teachable moment as they come up. Pointing your family to Jesus when those sponteous moments present themselves takes awareness and self-discipline. Commit yourself to look and act - look for ways to turn a mundane situation into a worship experience; act on those impulses and speak up. It may be helpful to set a small goal for yourself. "When I notice a moment to point my daughter to Jesus, I won't shrug it off. I will talk to her about it at least once today!" The more it's on your mind, the more you will notice the Holy Spirit at work around you. God gives you so many chances each day to praise him, all you have to do is pick one!

     As I ate pumpkin pancakes with my family, we thanked God in prayer. We talked about all the joyful people that came together over pancakes, and how the feast we'll have with our Father in heaven will be even more incredible than our delicious fall breakfast. You can leverage the traditions you already have with your family to point them to Jesus - you just have to look for opportunities and act on them!

Holiday Traditions That Matter: Point Your Kids to Jesus With Your Family's Holiday Plans

“What does your family do for the holidays? Anything special?”

     I asked a friend this question just this morning. I'm sure you've started to hear this question more now that winter is closing in. It usually sparks nostalgic conversations of childhood memories and time together with family. My friend answered my question by sharing some of his family traditions of going to basketball games, cooking food, and spending time with his grandparents. It got me thinking about my own family’s traditions, and I had to ask myself, “Why do we do all this stuff?”

     As I thought about it more, it was helpful to break things down into town categories: rituals and traditions. Most of us, myself included, fall into the habit of rituals: setting up a Christmas tree, giving presents to family, and saying what we’re thankful for at Thanksgiving without much intentionality. Rituals aren't bad, but they can have so much more meaning when they're rooted in a tradition. Simply giving my kids a gift at Christmas is performing a ritual. But, I can pass on a meaningful tradition by giving my kids a gift because it is a reminder that God gave us the ultimate gift by becoming a man in order to die in our place. God perfectly established the tradition of giving, and I can pass that on in a small way through giving gifts to my children.

      Traditions are much more than performing an empty ritual— they are passing on a truth from one generation to the next. Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2,

You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

Starting traditions grounded in Scripture is an important aspect of discipling my own children, especially during the holidays.

     Here are a few ways to help us remember and teach our children the biblical truths behind some of our holiday rituals:

• Give each member of your family a chance to share how God has blessed them this year before you eat Thanksgiving dinner (It will be a chance to practice self-control too!).
• Use an Advent Calendar to keep the weeks leading up to Christmas focused on the truths behind our traditions and rituals. If you’ve never done this before, check out John Piper’s free ebook Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent. 
• Read the story of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-12) while wrapping presents for others.
• Read the Christmas story (Luke 2) while opening presents on Christmas morning.
• Read through the Gospel message of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Matthew 23-24) as a family on New Years to remind us of the new life we have been given in Christ.

     Keeping traditions focused on the Gospel can be both exciting and intimidating. Just remember that the goal is to simply remind ourselves and our family about the truths contained in Scripture. So let’s get creative to make this holiday season all about Jesus! What traditions does your family celebrate during the holiday season? How can we point our kids to Jesus in the chaos of Black Friday, school programs, and family gatherings? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Web Catch of the Week: Fall Favorites

     Fall is a season deeply rooted in traditions. It goes beyond putting on a costume and exploring different neighborhoods for the best candy stashes. At first I thought the obsession with apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and the #PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) was strictly for us in the Midwest. Turns out the trend has spread to areas like Houston, TX where my friend took her daughter to a pumpkin patch in 90 degree weather last week!

     Now that the weather is beginning to reflect the season, why not pass on some of your favorite fall traditions to your family? You can build some lasting memories with your kids by taking just a few minutes to do something out of your ordinary routine. Here are a few ideas to help get you started.

Here's one of our campers showing off her pumpkin jar from our Fall Frenzy craft.

     At our Fall Frenzy program, we transformed some old baby food jars with a little bit of paint to make tiny pumpkins and apples. You can easily make these at home using any kind of jar. They're perfect to fill with candy or other goodies to give as a gift. Check out step-by-step instructions for this fall craft by visiting The 36th Avenue blog.

     If you're still in search of some autumn activities and crafts for your family, Katie Femia put together a great list of fall activities perfect for kids and adults in her guest post on the blog Premeditated Leftovers. She also includes a few helpful links to recipes, crafts, and other family activities. Check out "30 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy Fall." 

     What fall traditions does your family have? Are there any foods, places, or activities that you like to enjoy during the fall? Share your fall favorites in the comments, and help us all make lasting memories with our families.