The fire crested the hill beyond our kitchen window. It had already savaged several homes and now it was heading for ours.
What should I do? What could I save? What would remain if everything burned?
Terrified . . .
I woke up!
As I sat in bed waiting for my heart to slow I pondered — What could withstand a total burn?
The following week I went to a local landscaper and paid by the pound to buy rocks. Rocks!
Each rock had to be big enough to be significant but small enough for a child to carry. Probably 5 to 8 pounds. About the size of a sack of sugar.
I picked out 20 of them and pushed my Visa card across the counter. $84 bucks! For rocks! Yikes!
Some time later our family gathered. Everyone picked out a rock and wrote their name or something meaningful on it. On the hillside we placed them carefully in a pile. Then we prayed and read from Joshua 4 about the Israelites crossing the Jordan and marking that spot with 12 rocks from the river bed.
“In the future when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Tell them it is a memorial testifying that in impossible times – God is faithful!” Joshua 4:21
As family events occur we add a rock. A grandchild graduates. A rock. Another marries. A rock. The new groom? He gets one as well.
As I look at our rock altar, I think anew about what would happen if a fire swept across the dry hillside and wiped out our property.
Only one thing would survive that kind of fire.
A Family Rock Altar:
And that would be enough.
In your busy life have you thought about building something meaningful to memorialize your family? Something that will withstand the catastrophes of life. A family torch to light the darkness. A creed to have your family live into.
What about . . .
A Family Mission Statement:
A mission statement explores family goals and focuses on intentional living.
“Inward, outward, upward and onward,“ Rhonda DeYoung says to her children, and they know exactly what she means. She continues, “When the kids were little, we used these words to encourage them to show who they were on the inside by being godly on the outside, through taking the high road upward and moving on from a situation — not being dragged down by it.”
This statement is clear, inspiring and can be understood by even young children.
A Family Theme:
Faith. Family. Friends. It may sound simple but it sums up the Royal Law of James 2:8. You can calibrate family decisions against it.
1. Is this decision God honoring?
2. Does it strengthen our family?
3. Are we loving others as ourselves?
Busy business woman, please slow down enough to be intentional about what you want your family to stand for. Before God. Before each other. Before the world.
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll be liable to fall for anything.” Don’t let that happen.
Want to see more from Carolyn? Check out her recent article Why Busy May Be Bad For You.
Carolyn Dunn coaches busy women who are time starved, disorganized and distracted balance a productive work life with a peaceful and nurturing home life. Instead of struggling with overwhelm, procrastination and time management issues they can learn to say “goodbye” to chaos, and “hello” to sanity. Carolyn has a strong Christian background and a Fuller Seminary Masters degree in theological studies as well as marriage and family ministries. She is actively involved in planning large conferences as well as small retreats, and has been the speaker at many seminars and workshops.
To learn more about the author please visit Carolyn Dunn Coaching.
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