What is an easy technique to establish family identity that you can come back to again and again that creates consistency in expressing family values, helps train your children’s minds, and provides countless hours of family discussions that will create an intentional family culture and firm family identity?
Memorization.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are admirable, if there is any virtue, if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
A child memorizes a phrase “Thank you”, later comes to understand when that phrase is appropriate to say. Then after a time, the child comes to realize that it relates to a heart issue of appreciation more than just a socially appropriate response. That teeny little phrase has a lifelong journey associated with it. Now look at the potential journey associated with the Bible verse above. Asking your child to memorize it and recite it before breakfast could start the day right which could truly anchor their life. By creating a family identity around memorizing this verse, can you see how values and culture can follow?
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On!” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
– Calvin Coolidge
What kind of dinner discussion could come of your child reciting this quote? Will they learn what persistence means? Might you all plumb the depths and breath of motivation and discipline? How about arrogance that comes with the gifts of talent, genius, and education? How will your family identify with the slogan of Press On!?
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23
A verse can be a mental companion over a lifetime and be lived out daily. Memorization is only learning the A,B,C’s of an idea. Learning the essence of the idea takes time – takes constancy with that idea, and dynamically interacts with maturity of the child. Memorization invites openness mentally and spiritually as the verse or quote begins to germinate and take root in their maturity. But, and this is important, it only does so as a means to demonstrate family culture. If it’s just a chore to memorize a verse to impress friends and neighbors, then your kids will feel like dancing monkeys. But if mom and dad memorize these truths, discuss them at dinner, find parallels in the circumstances of life, and decode the mysteries of truth, that is a family identity and culture children will embrace.
Pick a single quote per child, print it out, tape it on the fridge, and help them memorize it. There’s no rush to accomplishing this. Create a routine around when they recite the first line. Add a second, and so on. Then once they’ve memorized the whole, have them present it at Sunday dinner. Follow up with a discussion about what it means. Ask how it might be demonstrated. Then the following Sunday, do it again. Then when Grandma and Grandpa come over, again. Then a month later, again. Then on their birthday, again. By that time, they’ll have 2 or 3 quotes, verses, poems, sayings or family phrases they can recite from memory. Each child will have their own journey with these ideas. You are just a tour guide. The result will create a family identity and culture whose blessing will pass to the 3rd and 4th generation.
To many memorized blessings,
Lis and Dave Marr