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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
In this region, we are well into winter. We’ve had snow, rain, and gusty winds. I must admit a particular delight with the snow, even in light of the effort needed to clear it from walkways and driveways. There’s a fascination with the luminous brightness of newly fallen snow that covers and highlights the landscape.
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We had the blessing of time with family during this past Christmas. We brought food and gift bags to the celebration at one such gathering. When we got to the house, one of our young grandsons rushed to meet us at the door and enthusiastically asked if he could help us carry what we had in our arms. I didn’t need the help, but his generous spirit immediately prompted me to give him what I was holding.
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Celebrating family life | Seasonal Reflections
We recently asked the grandchildren what one word would describe their experience of Christmas. Their word responses were joyful, warm, and family.
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I recently asked one of my younger grandsons what he found interesting about school this year. He replied with a detailed description of an item on the lunch menu. Maybe it’s the teacher in me, but I expected him to respond with something about classes, friends, homework, or similar. I wasn’t ready for a food response, totally unexpected. In retrospect, it made great sense. Eating is a bright spot in our day.
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This time of year, people in various places celebrate in gratitude for the blessing of a bountiful harvest. As the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving, I can’t help but cherish childhood memories of Thanksgiving gatherings long past. When I was growing up, our extended family would gather for a grand meal and engaging conversation. The younger ones would be seated at a separate table at these celebrations. I suspect the table arrangement accommodated seating capacity at the adult table and was sensitive to young people’s interests. It was great fun. I was one of the youngest and delighted to be in the company of my older cousins.
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When I was teaching, I would sometimes pose the question, “What is your favorite verse or section of Scripture?” It was inspiring to accompany people as they thoughtfully considered the many possibilities, searching through memory and faith. Sometimes, it wasn’t easy to single one out. Our favorite might change at different times in our lives. I think it’s an interesting question to ask oneself. Not only for what it tells us about God but also to contemplate what God’s Spirit reveals to us about ourselves.
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