4Devotions can become dull. Our aim should be to make the times something to which they can look forward. ”
We find that variety helps to make our family worship more profitable. Children respond much better to change, freshness and variety than they do to routine. Instead of always reading the pas sage the reader can tell it as a story. Scripture reading is sometimes by one person; at other times by all in unison; read responsively at another time. Again, when one who has just had a special bless ing or an outstanding spiritual experience could relate it and time be taken from, say, the com ments on the passage read. Our aim is to make these worship periods so bright and varied that the children will look for ward to them with interest. This means that while they are marked by reverence and restraint they are always kept informal. Further, this means that these periods must be long enough for the purpose, but not so long that the younger children tire. No one has .ever arrived at perfection the first time, and the conducting of family worship is no exception. So we must not be discouraged because all does not go as we would wish at first. We may stumble and fall short. Yet as we look to the Lord and persevere these times at the family altar will gradually become more meaningful. RESU LTS The result of this effort, planning and care can mean that the family altar is the high-spot of the day. It is the time, perhaps the only time of the day, which is cheerful and happy and when all the sorrows and worries are shut out. It is the nearest we are to Heaven while we are still on earth. There are some possessions which we could go without and, while we should be sorry for the loss, life would go on much the same without them. The family altar is the last activity we should give up because it is there that we meet the Lord. We start the day with Him and He is with us all the hours we are at business, school, or in the home. And what can be better than a whole day spent with the Lord?
To sing a chorus or two, a gospel song or a hymn will give warmth and life to our- devotions. If one member of the family can play an instru ment it makes the singing even better. These compositions include prayers to God and children soon learn them by heart. They often con tain fine sentiments and the words come to us in times of trouble and distress and restore confidence and bring joy to our hearts. Making out our own program each day is difficult; devotions can become dull. Try a pre pared plan, if only for a short time. Excellent de votional helps have been prepared that give a strong devotional stimulus to family devotions. We do not go for long before a hindrance to our family devotions hits us hard. One member of the family perhaps has a drastic change in his sched ule. We may get discouraged as we wonder if these times of worship mean as much to us as we had hoped. Sometimes we change the time so that the whole family can attend our daily service. We change the form or contents at other times. But one thing is sure, we have our devotions regularly. We are as anxious to have our spiritual meals as we are to have breakfast, dinner, or supper. It is all too easy to let our devotions slip when we are on vacation. But having realized the danger, we are just as careful to ensure the setting apart of the few moments there as we are when we are at home. LEA D ER SH IP In the days when the family is young, father or mother must lead the service every time. As the children get a little older they can take their share in these devotions. Indeed it is always good when each one in the family takes his part. By our conduct and by what we say, we convey to our children the truth that these times of fellow ship are a great privilege — not a mere duty. As they see that we set great store by them, they will learn to love them and look forward to them.
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NOVEMBER, 1965
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