A New Family Tradition

 Recently, my wife and I decided to start a new family tradition at our house. I personally love family traditions. I'm not talking about the family traditions Hank Williams Jr. sings about. I'm talking about the traditions that you loved as a kid. Family traditions are some of my sweetest memories as a child. It was always something good I could depend on happening. It was one of the few things in my life as a child that was constant and unchanging when many things seemed to change for me and my family (new homes, towns, schools, and even step-parents). Now, as my wife and I strive to bring parental solidity to our children, family traditions are a great way to make memories last forever.

Here's a new tradition for you and your family: Each day, during the family mealtime (for us it's dinner) and after our family prayer, one child or adult (yes Dad, you have to participate) is responsible to verbally recite from memory a Bible verse of their choice. For this tradition to happen notice what must be in place first: 1) you must have a meal with your family daily [unless traveling without them] 2) you must pray together daily as a family. You may have heard the true saying, "A Family that prays together, stays together."


As the Dad, I went first. I had prepared a memory verse and recited it for the wife and children. And, yes: It's okay to use the John 3:16 cop-out the first time. Our children were thrilled to incorporate this routine into our mealtimes. They immediately asked who would be next. You could almost see the verses bouncing around in each child's head.

While this is a good tradition to start you may be asking, "What exactly is the purpose?"

I believe there are, at least, 6 purposes:

1. This tradition puts a responsibility on our children and us as parents to be accountable for bringing a new Word to the dinner table. People are waiting and expecting you to deliver what you have been assigned to do. Kids need to learn how it feels to be accountable to deliver a new truth.
2. This tradition puts God's Word to memory and heart.
3. The children love the suspense of wondering what the verse will be. Our children study and memorize those unique verses in the Bible to share at the table.
4. These moments of reciting memory verses are guaranteed to spark great discussions throughout the mealtime. You will find yourself (as a parent) explaining many great flames of truth from the Word of God that was started by the little spark of that night's memory verse.
5. The children are responsible for choosing and then memorizing their own verse. They know they have to come prepared. One of the first things our children will talk about in the morning times is who has the verse for that evening's meal.
6. This little family tradition has brought our children closer to God's Word and ignited a desire to study/memorize His Holy Word.

Family traditions are sure to build great memories and they are easy to start. Go ahead, Dad. You can do it! Start this one today!


Got a great family tradition you would like to share? Post it below in the Comments or email us at thedaddydisciple@gmail.com!