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Family For the Family

Have You Lost Your Heart For Your Family?

Happy three generation family sharing a mealtime together

Sometimes “being present” is not enough.  We work hard to make time for family dinners, go out of our way to make family activities fun and inspirational, and purpose to be home together soaking up the quality time.

Yet, in the end, we feel as if something is still missing.

I wonder… if we took all of the fluff out of our schedules and the intentionality away from our activity planning, would we find buried treasure in the simplicity of just playing and being together?

The day I stepped into my home full of togetherness, but heard whining, wishing, and boredom wisping through the walls instead, I knew I had been taking swings at what the world deemed “quality time,” and it was falling on souls made for more.

When we fill up our family time with “wish-filled” thinking and idealized thoughts of fun, we often find our family dinners to be drudgery from the kitchen prep to the clean-up.  And devotional times?  We simply endure them… because it is the “right thing to do.” Unwittingly, we have created an environment of “to-do” lists forgoing the living of “to-DAYS.”

The day I hit my first HOME run, I knew that I had knocked the ball out of the park. Before this day,  I had never really truly embraced my home as a haven.  I hadn’t realized that we, as parents, have the privilege to create the atmosphere for living, loving and enjoying life together.

I threw out all preconceived ideas; critical spirits weren’t allowed, and we re-booted our home into an environment of living each day together in a spirit of wanting to be together, and not just striving to get to the next pinnable, expectation-filled thing we “should” be doing.

I threw out the to-do lists and waited for each day to present itself with God-chosen moments for us to be together with Him as the Center.  We worked through hard moments – together.  Our meals changed from “this is what we do” to a rush of excitement and joy as we ate, shared our days and our struggles, and listened to the heart at the head of our table, as he also embraced the gifts gathered around.

I wondered for a while… were we the only family who had allowed routine to take over the very heart of our home?

When you find yourself sitting in the middle of your home, with your family all around you, and you cannot remember the conversations; if there is bickering and arguing and you feel like all of your work seems fruitless… perhaps you have missed something, too?

Moments are gifts, not lists.

When you gather, give.  When you give, love.  And when you love, listen to those around you.

Your swing will come full circle as you see the light in family members stirred to excitement, realizing that they are more than the recipients of  “intentional” gatherings, more than passive receivers scheduled to participate in a planned exercise.

Bring back your heart for your family.  Where the glory and celebration is worth the embrace.

Are you on propel mode?  Trying to get to the next family outing or activity, leaving behind your heart and spirit FOR your family?

Be present with the Lord, asking Him to restore your heart FOR your family, and He will surely give you the desires of your heart.

Blessings,

September

 

 

 

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About September McCarthy

Dan and September have been married for 24 years, and are raising their family with a vision to reach the hearts of their children with a bigger Kingdom purpose than themselves.

September has a heart for encouraging women in motherhood.  While home educating her 10 children and keeping her home, she has written an e-book to the heart of women, titled Hula Hoop Girl. Her book encourages women to find their identity in Christ, and to not take on more than He has intended. Her journey through loss and tragedy has taught her to be sensitive to the pain in other’s lives.

September ministers and mentors with discipleships, speaking, and writing. She writes at One September Day, and is a contributing writer for MODsquad, Allume and Mom Heart. Dan and September are Conference founders for Raising Generations Today, a conference in the northeast, with a strong vision for families.

Living the rural life, with barefoot toes, planting seeds, raising chickens, and soaking up the goodness of God’s glory, she finds her favorite place to be is home. Between laundry and life – her heart is to encourage. Connect with September on Facebook and Twitter .

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Comments

  1. Terry @ A Mom's Many Lessons says

    August 22, 2014 at 1:30 pm

    This really spoke to where our family is. Thanks for sharing a much-needed reminder to put the love and life back into our home! Terry

  2. September McCarthy says

    August 22, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Terry,
    Thank you for reading here today. We are encouraged to know there are families walking this journey together. Thinking of you as you love life back into your family. Blessings!

  3. Jess White says

    August 24, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Such a good reminder.

  4. Q says

    September 20, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    I’ve been cleaning up my e-mails and when I opened up my email this happened to be at the top of my email? I’ve been working hard to get a routine and planning the to-do lists. But, my husbands love tank is empty. 🙁

Hey there! Thanks so much for stopping by our blog. We are absolutely thrilled you are here! We are a crazy church planting couple who loves Jesus, our four kids and loads of coffee! We are giving God the glory every step of the way and love sharing our journey with you.

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