6 THINGS TO AVOID SABATOGING YOUR VACATION
As a result, you can end up trying to build a great spiritual vacation with your family only to drive them away with your nasty attitude. Even if you don’t outrightly say, “It’s all about me,” guaranteed that attitude is going to seep through in your actions and behavior. If you have children, you also need to be on the lookout. Unfortunately, they are little sinners wanting to be selfish too. It’s important to take time to help them put aside their selfishness as well so everyone can come together and have the vacation of a lifetime. FUN WITHOUT A PURPOSE The opposite of selfishness, the idea is that, since we don’t spend a ton of time with our families, we’ll make vacation all about them and what they want to do. This idea quickly falls back into the “American Vacation” that we discussed earlier. Sure, everyone might have a fantastic time, but has anything truly valuable taken place? In a year, how will your family be better off because of the time and money you spent? What about in 10 years? Fun is important, but so is spiritual and relational growth. The hard part about this is that people often don’t have a natural desire for what’s best for them. We’ve all struggled to get our kids to eat their vegetables or brush their teeth. At some point, we have to make the decision to give them what they need and not just what they want. The best part? With a little effort and planning, your vacation can be tons of fun and still have a profound and lasting impact on your family. A FAMILY WITH DIFFERENT GOALS Often the biggest relational issues arise when people have unmet expectations. That’s why it’s important to set expectations about your family vacation. Think through what you’re hoping a vacation might accomplish, and then share that openly with your family. 2 3
A “spiritual” vacation isn’t a magic bullet. Just like gathering as a family and spending a truckload of money won’t make a great vacation, going somewhere where spiritual can’t change your heart! Unfortunately, you take yourself with you wherever you go. Before you leave, decide to avoid these common pitfalls that can absolutely ruin ANY vacation. SELFISHNESS The number one thing that destroys a family vacation is, without a doubt, selfishness. Everyone is busy. We all work hard. Often we want time for ourselves... to do the things that relax or recharge us. It can be particularly easy to be selfish if you’ve spent the whole year working to save money for the vacation you’re about to go on! You might feel entitled or that you have the right to get what you want. The problem is that this attitude is the quickest way to shut down what God intends to do for you and your family during your vacation. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” There’s probably nothing else in the whole world that is sure to stress you out faster than having God resist you. You know that feeling, when it’s seems like the whole world is conspiring against you? More often than not, that’s God putting little mini-trials in your life to “resist” your selfish plans. Selfishness also pours a giant bucket of cold water on any potential relationship growth that might be about to take place. One guy told us, “I tell my family that I work hard every day and I am the one paying for this vacation, so we do what I say.” There’s a certain amount of logic there, but, unfortunately, that’s a selfish philosophy that puts others last. Selfishness is the opposite of love. Love does not seek its own, and it looks out for the best interests of others. When you are selfish, it kills any relationship building you might do with your family. 1
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