With two kids in college, one in high school, and all of us with packed schedules, we rely on group texting throughout the day. Phone calls and Facetime are always welcome but unrealistic with multiple schedule conflicts. To help us remain connected beyond the "How is everyone doing?" text, I like to propose different questions for the family to respond to.
In the past, we have read the same Bible chapter and shared our top three takeaways. Occasionally, we will discuss current events and how to make a difference. We share other people's prayer requests with the group for intercession. Recently, we started incorporating two questions into the group daily chat.
How did you invite Jesus into your day?
How did you see Jesus today?
It has been inspiring to read how Jesus has become part of everyone's day and how they have encountered Him. With these simple questions, we intentionally look for Him and engage with Him. He desires to be a part of our lives during the highs and lows but also the mundane. Ironically, it turns out to be pretty special when I invite God into what appears like an average day. For example, at work, I noticed how the day was growing more intense, and it was only 8 in the morning. The day had only started, but it was growing more hectic, and nothing seemed to go right. So I walked down the halls and just started to invite Jesus in. I welcomed Him into each office, prayed for God's presence, and asked Him to take over. Not to let the chaos of the day overwhelm us, but the peace of heaven to overtake the hearts and minds. And I can honestly say the complaining became less, and the solutions started rolling in. Yes, it was still a hairy day; however, our perspectives changed once Jesus was invited. Sometimes, we tend to accept what is happening instead of trying to change it. Another time, my youngest son was in the school bathroom, and two kids were starting to have a physical altercation. He wasn't sure what to do, so he just invited Jesus in and asked Him to take care of it, and all of a sudden, the fighting stopped. The two male students quietly left the bathroom- no yelling or arguments. They didn't go as best friends, more like strangers, but at least they weren't fighting. Another lovely way to be intentional is to incorporate worship music into the day. I asked my family to openly listen, soak in the lyrics, and worship for at least 45 minutes. We all have some form of earbuds, so it's not difficult to spend uninterrupted time meditating. These simple activities help us stay engaged with one another and, more importantly, with God. One of our highest priorities, my husband and I have, is to witness our children continually growing in their relationship with Jesus. We hope they will encounter Him deeper and take Him wider in whatever stage and age of their lives. I probably said this before, but my kids are old enough now to grow in their own faith and not lean on my husband's and mine. We can't force it to happen, but we can certainly pray for it as well as use daily reminders to spur one another on. Try this with your family and watch your relationships with one another and with God thrive to the next level.
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