So, what does your family do for Easter or Passover -- on these two faith holidays that are important enough to warrant releases from school and work because of the dominance of Christian and Jewish faiths in American culture? Christian people celebrate the death and resurrection of a Savior, the birth of a faith, and the promise of new life, both on earth and beyond. Jewish people remember God “passing over” their households when carrying out a death sentence for the first born sons of their enslavers. They also celebrate release from slavery in Egypt and the beginning of a journey toward the Promised Land. Themes of release from death or darkness to new birth through saving grace are so prominent in faith and in our culture that it seems worthwhile to think deeply this spring about what they might mean in our family’s lives.
How do you celebrate spring or Easter or Passover in your household? How do you encourage your children to begin new journeys, to leave or “put to death” what isn’t working? What new journeys would you like to begin yourself? What encourages you to be truthful with yourself -- about parts of your life or about people that you need to leave behind? What empowers you to take the first steps on a new journey, in a new direction, in developing a new “you” or more helpful relationships?
Wouldn’t your family benefit from taking a break from busy-ness and becoming more intentional about the direction you want your lives to go? Take the challenge. Sit still for a period of time this week. Jot down or draw a picture of what your life looks like now, and of what you would like your life to look like. Share it with your significant others. Decide on specific steps to move toward your new vision. Make this the time to SPRING into your new vision, into new family conversations that can bring about greater happiness and family satisfaction.
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