Family spirituality
I’ve been listening to another cd from Matthew Kelly called “5 Practical Ways to Build Family Spirituality.” Here are his 5 ways and 2 of my favorite quotes:
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- Ask the right questions. –Talk to your kids in ways that help them figure out the answers so they learn to make decisions. Ask question so you know your children and know about their lives.
- Pray as a family. – Don’t rely on memorized prayers to inspire them. Let them hear you talk to God as a friend. Pray together at meals. One night a week, read the next week’s Gospel together and talk about what one word, phrase, or idea struck each member of the family as important
- Create a family culture. – Reclaim family dinners as often as possible. Spend time together. Find ways to build each other up.
- Simplify. – Eliminate excess, whether material goods or commitments. Let your children help reduce their belongings and take them to Good Will or Salvation Army with you. They’ll learn and grow through the process. Say no to Sunday commitments, other than church and carefree timelessness* with your family and friends.
- Develop a Spirit of Service. – By example and inclusion, teach children to serve each other, the Church, the community and the nation. They will grow up with a sense of purpose, ready for God to send them on His mission.
“If you want to be happy for a lifetime, find a way to make a difference in other people’s lives.”
“How do you want your life to be different next year? The only way that you can make it different is if you change your habits today.”
*Matthew talks elsewhere about carefree timelessness as the one thing that will improve any relationship, guaranteed. Remember being newly in love? How you could spend hours together without needing to accomplish anything? Remember the last time you felt really close to and connected with your family? Were you enjoying carefree timelessness? Probably so. Give that unstructured time to your spouse, your children, and your God and watch the love grow.
Blessings!
Betty Arrigotti
For more information see www.MatthewKelly.org
Tags: Family, Spirituality
April 16, 2010 4:48 pm
By Little Red Hen, April 16, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Looks like a good read/listen!
You should make the word “timelessness” a link to your previous blog where you mentioned it. Give me a call and I can walk you though how to make a pingback if you’d like!
By Mike Arrigotti, December 9, 2010 @ 12:14 am
Uncle Ramie was a big influence in my life. I loved him and our times together were always fun and educating. He was a huge influence on my live path. Ramie, George and Stan unknowing pushed me into engineering and I’ll forever be grateful.
Peace,
Mike