Week Five: Family Toolkit

Theme: Practice Paying Attention — Humility

Humility opens our hearts to gratitude. It allows us to become more awake to our profound interconnectedness, see beyond ourselves and feel deep appreciation for the gifts others offer the world. Research tells us that when we become aware of the value of others, it uplifts us and spurs us to be more generous and kind. Here are some fun ways to inspire the deeply entwined values of humility and gratitude in your family.

Scripture Text | Genesis 2:4b-7

Three Wonderings

1

I wonder what it means to be an image of God?

2

I wonder what it looks like to treat everyone else as an image of God?

3

I wonder why we sometimes imagine we are greater than or lesser than others?

Spiritual Practice

Join Rev. Emily Meyer, Director of The Ministry Lab, as she invites you to wonder and reflect in an audio recording.

Transcript available here.

Reflection & Music Video

Join musician Richard Bruxvoort Colligan as he invites you to reflect, wonder and connect with and through his original music and thoughts.

Creative Project

Out of Your Hands Word Games

Creative, collaborative, silly, ages 4+

Materials: Paper, pen

How To:

Simultaneously, one friend comes up with a made-up word while another friend comes up with a definition. Read the word then the definition.
Variation: One friend makes a statement starting with “If…”, the other friend makes a statement starting with “Then…” Read the “If…” statement followed by the “Then…” statement.

Time it takes: 5 min+

Special thanks to my friend, songstress Anna Laura Quinn for playing games with me.

Games/Movement

Sculptor

Creative, physical, silly, ages 5+

How To: The game charades, but this brings in an extra layer humility. Set up like you do for a game of charades with at least 3 players. When it is someone’s turn, they become the sculptor and bring up a helper who is their clay. The catch: Only the sculptor knows the clue. Please note: This is an opportunity to have a boundaries and consent conversation about if, where and how to touch someone else’s body. Once everyone has defined their comfort zones as both clay and sculptor, play can begin! The sculptor is working hard to get the guessers to guess their idea, using the ‘clay’ to represent the object/book/movie. Hilarity will ensue, and don’t be surprised if further conversations emerge about control, humility, flexibility, or boundaries. Jump in and let this be a space to have those conversations.

Time it takes: 25-30 minutes

Caring for the Common Good Project

Beyond Gratitude

Gratitude is good medicine: it makes us humble and more aware of others, inspires optimism, improves health and increases happiness. But what’s even more powerful is layering gratitude with action. Here are some ways to supercharge your thankfulness and make a difference for others.

Express gratitude for your food. Then use this Help the Hungry Calendar to remind you of all you have — and to collect money for your local food bank.
Express gratitude for your health. Then create happy mail for a child who is ill. Or consider assembling breakfast bags for your local Ronald McDonald House.
Express gratitude for your home. Then learn more about the causes and impact of homelessness by reading books together. You can also create homeless care kits to keep in your car to hand out to those in need.
Express gratitude for the planet. Then raise your voice for sustainability using this template, making a pledge for the earth and asking your representatives to do the same.
Express gratitude for family and friends. Then share an origami heart or big-hearted award with those special loved ones.