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<\/p>\nThis week our family returned from a week-long vacation in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains. It was one of the best things we had done in a long time!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
One evening as we relaxed and fellowshipped with our host family Christina mentioned,<\/p>\n
“This is the first time we’ve ever taken a real family vacation.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I quickly responded by saying,<\/p>\n
“No, about 10 years ago we took a 3 day vacation with our 2 kids.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Even as I said those words I realized how foolish I sounded.<\/p>\n
It was true, it had been way too long and we really had never just gotten away with the family with the single purpose of resting and refreshing ourselves. Yes, we’ve been on a lot of trips but usually those trips involve some ministry in which mainly I was involved. The children were able to relax a little but more often than not I was in meetings, speaking in churches or leading seminars.<\/p>\n
This time we did things different!<\/p>\n
\n
- We didn’t plan any ministry<\/li>\n
- We got out of our regular environment<\/li>\n
- We got away from the internet<\/li>\n
- We hiked together<\/li>\n
- We \u00a0read God’s Word together<\/li>\n
- We played games together<\/li>\n
- We prayed together<\/li>\n
- We enjoyed each other’s company without the regular pressures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Why is it so important for families to get away like this? Here are a few observations I made after our vacation.<\/p>\n
1. It provides an undistracted setting<\/h4>\n
At home we are often distracted. Everyone has different responsibilities and commitments. Our kids are getting older and now they are participating in activities in our church, not to mention sports, doctors appointments, shopping, school and everything else that’s involved in a busy household with 5 children.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately all that business can distract us from what is really important. We decided to use our vacation to renew our focus as a family on God’s Word. We read the Bible as a family every morning and every evening discussing its meaning and significance in our lives. \u00a0The kids asked me,<\/p>\n
“Papa, why don’t we do this more often at home?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I admitted to them that we need to be more committed to reading the Bible as a family.<\/p>\n
2. It promotes healthy relationships<\/h4>\n
Talking with your family without any of the pressures of everyday life is refreshing and it helps deepen the relationship. \u00a0We spent about 14 hours in the van driving to our vacation spot. You can’t spend that long in the car with 6 other people and not touch on some important topics!<\/p>\n
We laughed and joked together and the kids probably asked a few thousand questions! Those questions gave way to many great opportunities to discuss everything from how to choose a spouse to why you can’t milk a boy cow!<\/p>\n
3. It gives a fresh perspective<\/h4>\n
When our heads are constantly lowered focused on the work before us it is easy to lose perspective, to become discouraged and to forget our calling. Maybe it was the fresh air of the mountains, maybe it was the relaxed setting but we came away with a fresh perspective on what God has called us as a family to do!<\/p>\n
4. It allows for physical refreshment<\/h4>\n
We hiked 5 out of the 6 days of our vacation! We even made an attempt to climb the tallest mountain in Ukraine with all of our kids! We didn’t make it to the top due to rain, wind and cold temperatures. Maybe that doesn’t sound like physical rest, but for a family that lives in the city this was just the thing we needed. We came home feeling physically better than we have in a long time!<\/p>\n
5. It strengthens core commitments<\/h4>\n
What are we really committed to as a family? Life has a way of causing us to drift off course and forget those core commitments. Getting away provide us with the opportunity to correct that drift and bring our family back on course with God’s Word! As a family we are committed to growing together in God’s grace and sharing the love of Jesus with those around us!<\/p>\n
Questions: Are you planning a family vacation this year? What tips do you have to make that time profitable and refreshing for your family?<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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