Family life can be hectic. From work and school to family activities and special events—all of our commitments can lead to a pretty full calendar. In Shepherd’s Gate’s “At Home With” series we explore how families, just like yours, combat the overwhelm by connecting with each other and prioritizing intentional engagement in their communities.
Today’s “day in the life” style blog post follows the Hammer family, from Shepherd’s Gate, as they incorporate moments of connection with God and with one another to ground their daily routines. Their faith serves as a foundation for the strength and compassion they practice in their daily life.
Morning
Some mornings can be a little chaotic. I help the kids get ready for their day while I “coffee.” Grab a small quick breakfast, sometimes on the go, making sure the kids are successfully off to school as I head to work. I run a tool sharpening business, providing this customized service for a variety of clients. One thing that does run through my mind daily is, “God place me where you need me today. To be of service to my family, community, and the people that I encounter today.” Then, I always glance at the verse on my mousepad and find a moment to read and reflect on:
Psalm 51:10: “Create in me a Clean Heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This sort of quick prayer and scripture ritual sets me on the right track for the day ahead.
Mid-Day
Before I know it, it’s noon and I’m trying to keep up with the day’s tasks while maintaining a lighthearted disposition to my clients and the people around me. I deal with so many different people in my business from all walks of life. I enjoy hearing people’s stories and learning more about them as I go to different appointments during my day. I provide a service to them and treat each person I encounter as God would want me to treat them. Even when that is a challenge! I view it as an opportunity to live out my faith. When I finish a job, I thank my customer and say, “God bless you.” Most people receive it well and are kind-hearted when they respond. It is a way I honor God in all that I do.
Afternoon
While the kids are at school, Jennifer and I exchange texts throughout the day in between my appointments and her meetings and workload. One thing that binds us together is our love for Christ.
Sometimes we just communicate what is going on that evening with the kids or how our day is going. Sometimes we discuss our stress. We share the faith that there is always peace in God’s love for us and remind each other of this when we need it. With God we know that we can get through anything.
Evening
Our children are involved in sports (dance, basketball, soccer) and our daughter is in Girl Scouts so they keep our evenings busy. We enjoy listening to Christian radio which adds God to our day every time we get into the car. Nothing better than hearing your child sing about God/Jesus. We hear testimonies together, they ask questions, and start conversations about God and faith as we head to our destination. These extracurricular activities also give us the opportunity to interact with new people that God places in our lives. We have been blessed by the friendships that have formed and have watched God work in our lives and in the lives of others that we meet.
We try to make it a priority to have a family dinner together where we talk about our day. We always pray before our meals and thank God for them. We listen and hear about some of the things that the kids have done through the day. A story about recess, time in band, or things that happened with a friend that day. We just listen and show them love and when the opportunity arises, we remind them of how God is working in their day. That He makes everyone different and how kindness to all is important.
By this point in our evening many loving moments switch to sibling arguments! So we pray together for patience and calmness in the house, sometimes with a side of deep breaths and forgiveness. This is also when homework, studying, and chores are underway, and before we know it, bedtime arrives. For us this looks like tuck-ins, some reading, and a few more prayers before we wake up to have another day.
If you’re seeking to prioritize intentional connection in your community and family life, small steps go a long way.
Here are some simple steps you can follow:
- Pray through your morning coffee.
- Listen to uplifting worship music on your commute.
- Invite God to your dinner table or into your bedtime routine.
And take comfort in knowing that there is no such thing as perfection as it relates to walking in faith. Small daily pursuits make a difference, and your loving Father is there with you! So why not start today? Enjoy living out your faith with those around you and you will watch the Lord’s presence and peace grow around you.
