Longer days, bright sunshine, warmer temperatures, swimming pools, amusement parks, and Saturday afternoon drives. There are so many things I enjoy about the summer months.
My favorite, however, has to be family gatherings!
Having adult children with families of their own, my husband and I find ourselves as “near” grandparents to one family and “long-distance” grandparents to two. Family gatherings don’t happen nearly often enough.
More fortunate than many, our family is generally able to gather together a couple of times each year – once around the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays and once during the summer. The anticipation is mounting, our summer gathering is just a couple of weeks away!
Perhaps because it’s not a common occurrence for our family, I find my thoughts often turning toward this idea of gathering.
GATHERING
Here’s what I know about gathering:
- It is not a new concept. In both the Old and New Testament, we read over and over how God gathered people together.
- Gathering matters. When we gather, we create space for cultivating our perspective, remembering the past, and celebrating the present. In this space, we fellowship – building bonds, making and deepening connections.
- Gathering calls for sacrifice. Showing hospitality, serving others require that we put aside our selfishness and reorient our focus.
- Gathered moments afford wonderful opportunity for influence. When you are gathered with your family, take the time to talk about the goodness of God, share the Gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:8), tell your children and your grandchildren what faith in Jesus means to you, offer grace, receive grace. Point to Christ.
TIPS FOR GATHERING
God has given my husband and me a distinctive role within our family. We are to pass the faith to our grandchildren and gathering helps us do that.
However, the positive influence, the discipling, the passing of the faith won’t just happen because we gather. For this to happen, we must be intentional about our gatherings.
Guard mealtimes. Set the stage for conversation and interaction. Institute a “no phones at the table” policy.
Help your family disconnect. We live in a face-paced, technology saturated world. It’s so important to make time to disconnect – from the hurry of life, social media, electronical devices, and other distractions of daily life. Encourage reconnection among family members by turning off the TV, collecting phones and other devices at the door, observing “tech free” time, or whatever works for your family.
Create routines for mealtime, bedtime, the beginning of the day, outings, or anything else you can think of. Children thrive on schedules and routine. Additionally, some people are wired to have a better day when they know ahead what’s coming. And sweet, sweet memories and traditions are often born out of the routines we set up.
Plan for intergenerational interactions. Every moment of your family gathering doesn’t have to be planned out. It’s also good to allow for some time when all the adults can talk with one another, or all the kids can go off to play. But make sure to incorporate some time when all the members of the family are involved in something TOGETHER.
Create an atmosphere of encouragement and building-up. Family gatherings are not the time to lecture your grandchild about their most recent tattoo or questionable friendship. It’s also not the proper setting for airing your adult children’s dirty laundry. (Address those things privately and appropriately.)
Model the life and love of Christ. Yes, family gatherings are a wonderful and effective vehicle for passing the faith. They are not, however, the place for your sermons. Avoid the inclination to jump on your soapbox and preach. Share your story when the mood and the conversation are right and learn to listen well when your family members are sharing their story.
What will your next family gathering look like? If you have a helpful tip, please share with us. We’d love to hear it.
Biblical Portrait of Grandparenthood
Did you know grandparenting is God’s idea? He created it. He designed it, and the Bible clearly defines it. Understanding and enthusiastically embracing the role is key to our effectiveness as a grandparent. Biblical Portrait of Grandparenthood highlights specific Scriptures that reveal God’s unique design for the role of a grandparent. Through a series of penetrating questions designed for self-reflection, discover how well you are fulfilling His plan. Also learn practical ways you can influence and impact the lives of your grandchildren through your attitudes, words, and actions.
6 comments
Heather Hart
I love family gatherings! Getting together with the people you love most. There’s nothing better.
10 Enjoyable Things to Do at Family Gatherings - Deborah Haddix
[…] week we considered the importance of family gatherings and the special space that “gathering” creates. In this space, we have the privilege of […]
Patsy Burnette
I love when we get the whole family together. It’s so much more difficult now that they are so scattered. There is absolutely nothing this mama’s heart loves more than to have all her kiddos under one roof! Thanks for another lovely grandparent post Deborah!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
adaughtersgiftoflove
I agree about putting down the phones, young people rarely look up from them, the art of conversation needs to return. And it is not boring to do a puzzle or talk.
aroundthetableblog
Family mealtimes are the centerpiece of our gatherings. By the goodness of God we now live in the same small city as three of our four children, 7 of our 9 grandchildren, and all four of OUR parents. Sundays are when all four generations come to our house. Everyone brings part of the meal and everyone helps with each other’s children and meal preps and clean up. Yesterday some stayed until 5 pm! When my kids were little I always said, “Don’t touch the centerpiece.” I still say that about our centerpiece of mealtimes!
Deborah
Heather, I must agree. Family gatherings are the BEST!