CHRISTIAN HOME
We live in an ever-changing society, and not all of the changes that have become a part of our daily lives are positive ones. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the average home. The home was once viewed as a safe haven for families. It was a place of love ... a place of learning and sharing. For Orthodox Christian families, the home was thought to be an extension of the Church ... a place to pray ... a place to practice what was preached on Sundays. The sanctity of the home for every husband and wife was placed into motion on the day of their marriage when, through the crowning ceremony, they were reminded that they were now rulers of a new "kingdom:" their household.
Sadly, most of today's homes are not governed by the same principles that those of past generations were. Blame is cast in many directions: with two working parents, it is difficult to find the time to devote to our family's spiritual needs ... children have so many "outside interests" that take them away from the home ... we can go on and on with "reasons" for the decline of the Orthodox Christian home. The truth of the matter, however, is that there should be NO REASON to have our home lose its intended character.
While we cannot LIVE in the past, we can certainly LEARN from it, and it is imperative for us to go "back to the basics" in terms of how we approach our home life. There are some simple, but effective ways to recapture the sacred aspect of what used to exist in an Orthodox Christian home.
Set time aside for prayer together each day. "The family who prays together stays together." This is not merely some catchy phrase -- it is a proven fact. Children should be taught to pray each morning and evening, as well as at meals, and parents should join them.
Read the Bible each day. Many of us wouldn't think of starting our day without reading the newspaper. Isn't reading the Word of God regularly far more important?
Follow the Church Calendar daily. Our Orthodox Faith is not just a "Sunday Religion." It is a "tapestry" of feasts and fasts, with commemorations of the saints interwoven among them. Families should celebrate the feasts, honor the fasts and imitate the lives of the saints of the Church. Discussing these things as a family is vital for spiritual growth in the home.
Practice the traditions of the Church. Prepare a basket for blessing at Pascha. Invite your priest to bless your home at Theophany. Take fruit to church for Blessing on the feast of the Transfiguration. Keep these traditions alive by practicing them with your family, and you will find new life in your faith. The key to successfully developing a proper Orthodox Christian home life is found in a word that has appeared several times in this writing: TOGETHER. A family is NOT a group of individuals living under the same roof, but going in different directions. On the contrary, a family is a UNITED UNIT - united in purpose and united in spirit. May we always remember that who we become in life has a direct correlation with our home life. Do not fail your family and yourself? Make every effort to make Christ and His Church a part of YOUR home.