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  • Posted:
  • January 5, 2024
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  • Family Life

The Rhythm of Life: Practical Steps for Faith at Home

Ever wonder how the small practices in your daily life shape your family’s journey?

“Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of the small, yet significant, practices that shape our family’s path. These small practices and habits compound over time, and their impact is only seen clearly when looking back in hindsight. Where our habits lead us all comes down to how intentional we are in forming them.

As parents, we’re not just the guardians of our home’s physical well-being but also its emotional and spiritual heartbeat. We’re responsible for setting the tone and the rhythm of our lives, no one else. It’s vital to take an intentional approach to forming our family’s habits or they’ll be shaped for us by external influences on our home.

Understanding the Rhythm of Life

It’s easy to get caught up in the minutia of the day-to-day. It can often feel like our lives are passing us by without being conscious of it. It’s like when you’re driving home from work and you pull into the driveway and think to yourself, “How did I get here?!”

The micro-decisions we make shape the rhythm of our lives. From choosing where to charge our phones while we sleep – at the bedside table or in another room – to defining our bedtime routine, whether it involves reading or watching TV. Every action we take, every small decision we make, contributes to the flow of our day and, consequently, our lives.

So what does this mean for our families?

The Importance for Families

We often worry about providing for our families with the necessities for our bodies to survive (water, food, shelter, etc), but providing our families with spiritual guidance is equally crucial. A rhythm of life rooted in faith can offer a sense of stability and comfort, especially in a world full of uncertainties and noise. It’s a way to pass on values, cultivate a sense of belonging, and build a sturdy foundation for our children as they grow.

A little bit about my story: I didn’t grow up in the church and faith wasn’t something that our family ever really talked about. I come from the best family. I really do. We were raised on Judeo-Christian values which guide me to this day, but it was never in the context of the bible and I never really knew how those values came to be.

My wife and I began attending FAC around 2019 after we had gotten married and purchased our first home. She had been raised in the church up until she was 12 and suggested that we try it out to see what we think. Now approaching 5 years, faith has become more of a habit in our lives. We attend most Sundays. I have begun reading the Bible daily as well (for the first time), and FAC is where we have met some of our dearest friends.

We’re still in the early stages of our faith journey as a family, but as we continue to fold faith into our daily lives by making it a habit, it becomes more and more apparent how valuable it truly is.

But I digress.

Speaking of habits!

Finding Your Rhythm Through Habit Stacking

This all reminds me of a book by James Clear titled, “Atomic Habits.” In it he shares practical ways to foster the desired rhythm you desire in your life for you and your family.

Here’s what “Habit Staking” is in a nutshell: Adding a new desired habit to an existing habit that you already practice. The Habit Stacking formula is as follows:

After/Before [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT].

For example:

  • After I pour my cup of coffee each morning, I will pray.

This approach can simplify integrating any desired habit into your life, making it a natural part of your family’s routine. It’s about small, consistent steps that build a lasting rhythm that you desire for you and your family. The idea is not complexity, but simplicity and consistency.

Here are some practical ways that you could ‘stack’ faith into your existing habits at home.

Practical Ways to Build a Rhythm of Faith at Home

1. Mealtime Moments

Sharing meals isn’t just about nutrition; it’s a time for connection. Use this time to share stories from the Bible, express gratitude through prayer, or simply discuss the day’s events through a lens of faith. This regular practice can become a cornerstone of your family’s day.

2. Commuting Conversations

The time spent commuting with your children can be transformed into meaningful discussions. Whether it’s talking about moral dilemmas faced by biblical characters or discussing real-life scenarios with a faith-based perspective, these moments can be invaluable.

3. Bedtime Blessings

As the day winds down, bedtime can be a tranquil time for prayer and reflection. Reading Bible stories, sharing personal experiences of faith, or simply spending a moment in prayer can create a peaceful end to the day and a great opportunity to connect with your children.

4. Morning Motivations

The way we start our day sets the tone for the hours to come. A morning routine that includes reading a Bible verse, a brief family prayer, jamming out to your favourite Christian artist, or even a faith-based motivational quote can energize and spiritually orient the entire family.

(This one is my favourite!)

The Impact on Children

Children learn by example. Allowing them to be included and taking ownership of the family’s rhythm and habits can help them adopt those new habits more quickly and with more conviction. Seeing their parents lead by integrating faith into daily life not only teaches them about Christianity and religion as a whole but also shows them how to live it and breathe it.

Beyond the Home

While focusing on faith at home is essential, it’s also important to connect with a larger community. Participation in church activities, community service, and interacting with other faith-based families can reinforce the values you’re instilling at home.

I can attest to this firsthand. This has been game-changing for myself and my family. I’ve always been drawn to other Christian families throughout my life and now that we are surrounded by families that share the same values and outlook on life, I have never felt so supported and cared for.

The Balancing Act

Balancing our faith, work, and family life is a challenge we all face. It’s crucial to remember that perfection is not the goal. What matters is the intention and effort put into finding a rhythm that is right for your family. It’s not about measuring your life against others’. Rather, it’s about reflecting on your own journey and your family’s progress. Compare where you are today to where you were yesterday – that’s where true growth is seen and appreciated.

The heart of nurturing a fulfilling family life lies in the intentional crafting of our daily habits and the rhythm they create. It’s about the small, consistent actions woven into our everyday routines that shape our family’s story, a life filled with purpose and connection.

An intentional rhythm is not just an anchor in the present but a guidepost for the future. Embracing each day with a commitment to positive, incremental changes, we build a profound legacy and a vibrant rhythm of life in our homes.

 

Bryton Udy attends FAC Deerfoot with his family and is the author of Dadurday. Dadurday is a father-focused, dad-driven newsletter dedicated to educating, inspiring, and celebrating fathers. Check it out for more insights and stories!

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