Celebrate Family

PHOTO CAPTION: I love spending time with family including grandkids for sure.

Families are forever! I’m so thankful for my family. I’m glad God gave me a family and I’m thankful that our family has stayed united in the good and the bad times. My family is not perfect.  We’ve been through our share of ups and downs. We’ve been frustrated with each other sometimes and we’ve had our share of scary times as well as good times. But I’m thankful that I have a family that depends on each other and loves each other. This, I know, is a gift from God.

What if God had not made families? I guess we really can’t answer that question because if God hadn’t made families, I’m sure that He would have had another plan in mind, but families were definitely a part of His plan and I’m thankful for that. National Daughter’s Day was Thursday, let’s celebrate our daughters and let’s extend that celebration to our whole family this week. Families are not perfect because all of us are imperfect, yet God makes up the difference when we give our imperfections, shortcomings and messes to Him. God redeems. He redeems our hurt, our mistakes and our times of anger, bitterness or unkindness. He takes these things and makes something beautiful out of it all. While we are celebrating families, we can forgive too. Most of the things we get upset over are really not worth hanging on to. Forgive often.

I so love the story of Ruth and Naomi. Ruth and Naomi were not your traditional family complete with father, mother and children. They started out that way. Naomi had a husband and sons who married, but then tragedy struck. Sickness took her husband and sons, leaving her with daughter-in-laws who were foreigners. Naomi and her daughter-in-laws suffered great loss. They were grieving the loss of family, Orpah decided to go back to her family, but Ruth chose to stay with Naomi. Why? Perhaps because Naomi had been kind to her or maybe it was because she had come to believe in Naomi’s God. Whatever the reason, they were family! They faced their hard times as a family and God provided for them. God honored Ruth’s kindness and commitment to Naomi and I think God honors our commitment to our families too.

Recently my family has been going through some tough stuff too. My mom has been in the hospital. She is now in rehab recuperating. She is doing much better and yet she definitely is needing more care as she is growing older. My brother lives close to her, but my sister and I live a long ways away. It’s hard to be there for her, although we are all trying to be there. Traveling back and forth, trying to keep up with work and staying connected with other family members has been tough. I find my siblings and I desperately need God’s help, strength and provision as we navigate these challenges.

Just for this week though, I am taking some time to thank God for my family and celebrate, because God made families and families are a good idea. Celebrate your family this week. God has great plans in store for you and if you, like Ruth and Naomi, are experiencing loss, then lift it up to God because He redeems that which we give to Him. Celebrate family by helping and being kind. Plan a surprise treat or serve your family’s favorite meal this week. Play games together, laugh, love and forgive. Whatever you do, set aside some time to enjoy your family. Then after you clean-up and get ready for bed, take a moment to simply thank God for families, especially yours.

PARENT PRAYER:
Father God,
Thank you for being with our family through the good and the bad times. Right now our family is going through kind of a tough time with my mom having some health issues. I know it’s hard for her as she is away from home and wishes her kids could visit more. I imagine she is lonely and she wishes she could do the things she used to do before she was sick. She is trying her best to remain positive, yet I know it’s hard to do so when she realizes she is getting older and knows she may never completely regain her strength. I want to walk with her through this, yet I want to spend time with the rest of my family as well. I am struggling finding a balance and knowing how to navigate being with and enjoying time with her while I live some 300 miles away. I need your strength. I know there are others too who are going through similar circumstances. Lord, show us how to celebrate and be thankful in the midst of hard times, whatever those hard times may be and like Ruth and Naomi, may we be kind to one another, forgiving when there is a misunderstanding, always believing, always hoping and always loving. I am glad that families can help each other. God you are good. Thank you for families. Thank you that we can be a part of your family too. Amen

KINDNESS CAPERS
Let’s do something nice for our families this week, What can we do? Here’s a few ideas to get you started. I would love to hear your ideas as well.

* How about a phone call, text or FaceTime call with a family member from out of town.

* Write a note and stick it in your hubby’s or child’s lunch. For a young child, draw a picture.

* Bake a favorite treat or buy a favorite treat to share with your family.

* Trying to eat healthy, how about turning on some music and dancing together – it’s good exercise too.

* Stop in the midst of a busy day for a long hug – don’t pull away too soon. It’s good for you too.

* Read a story together or share a laugh over your favorite comic strip.

* Enjoy the beautiful fall weather and get outside with your kids – take a walk.

* Smile and say, “Thank you!” to your son who took out the garbage or your daughter who picked up her toys or perhaps your husband who did the dishes.

* Deliver flowers to a friend or pick some from your own yard to share.

* Take time to truly listen to a friend, your spouse or your child, without judging, offering advice or interrupting. Just listen.

* Greet others with a friendly wave and say, “Hello!”

* Buy someone’s coffee.

* Do something kind as a family such as donating to a charity.

* Show appreciation to others – write a note, send a card, call, or simply say, “I appreciate you!”

* Overlook small mistakes. You may even wish to help someone clean up a mess they made.

* Pray for a friend or family member who is struggling. Ask how you can help.

Kid’s Section

STORY: Ruth & Naomi – Ruth 1:1-19
Once there was a family with a dad, mom and two sons. The dad’s name was Elimelech, the sons were Mahlon and Kilyon and the mom’s name was Naomi. This family loved and cared for each other, (Give self a hug.) but there wasn’t enough food to eat in their country because it hadn’t rained for a very long time. They decided to move to another country. (Pretend to pack.) They moved to Moab where there was plenty to eat. (Yum, yum!) While they were living in Moab, the dad, Elimelech, was very sick. Naomi was very sad, (Say, “Boo hoo.”) but she still had her sons to help her.

The sons grew up and got married. They married Orpah and Ruth. They all loved and helped each other, but soon, Mahlon and Kilyon got sick too. Naomi was very sad, (Say, “Boo hoo.”) still she had Ruth and Orpah to help her.

Then one day, Naomi heard that there was rain in her country, Judah. Now there was plenty of food to eat there. She was homesick. She wanted to move back to her home. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah packed up (Pretend to pack.) and started on their way back to Naomi’s country. (Stand up and start walking.) On the way, Naomi told Orpah and Ruth that they could go home to live with their own families. Orpah and Ruth didn’t want to leave Naomi. They were sad (Say, “Boo hoo.”) to leave Naomi all alone. Finally Orpah did decide to go back, but Ruth said she would never leave Naomi. She wanted to stay with Naomi and she wanted to love God like Naomi did. Naomi was her family now. She would stay and help her. Now Naomi was not alone. God took care of her and gave her Ruth to care for her too. Ruth showed kindness to Naomi. They were a family.

God gives us our families to care for us too. Families work together and care for one another. We can be kind to our families just like Ruth was kind and helpful to Naomi. When we are kind, we think about how others feel and we are helpful. When we show kindness and help others, we are sharing God’s love. God wants families to love and care for each other. Let’s be kind and loving to our family this week.
What are some ways that your family helps takes care of you?
How can you help your family?

MEMORIZE: Ephesians 4:32 NIV – (Hands open like holding a book.)
Be kind – (Softly rub hand along arm.)
And loving – (Give self a hug.)
To each other – (Extend hands outward.)

BE KIND AND LOVING SONG:
(To the Tune of: “Frere Jacque”)
Be kind and loving to each other,
The Bible says, the Bible says,
Be kind and loving to each other.
Ephesians 4:32

KNOW: God made families to help each other. Ruth was kind to Naomi. I can be kind to my family.
TALK ABOUT: Ways to help and show kindness.
ASK: Who loves you? God loves me.
AND DO… I will be kind and help my family.

FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK:
* Think of some ways to be kind and help someone this week. Do it with your child.
  * Encourage kindness and using  your manners at home too.

PRAYER:
Dear God,
Thank you for my family. I’m glad you made families to love and help each other. Help me to show kindness and love to my family and to others this week just like you love me. Amen