Finding Christian Family Rhythms
If I could only recommend one Christian parenting book, Justin Whitmel Earley’s Habits of the Household is it. I mean, there are several good ones on discipline, apologetics, etcetera, but this one’s foundational: Setting up your home and family Christian rhythms.
I mean, we walk through the mundane every day: dishes, teeth-brushing, laundry, packing lunches, name your list. If all that could happen in a purposeful, God-honoring way—instead of mindlessly on autopilot—wouldn’t you do it?
And it wouldn’t have to take much extra thought or energy, because once the new habits become engrained, they’ll run on autopilot just the same—especially on those days you could use a nap.
Just picture it (beyond the wave of my hand): worship throughout the day—on autopilot. No muss, no fuss. And no, this doesn’t involve eyes-closed singing with arms in the air. It’s simply a resting posture after well-thought planning and purposeful practice. And days walked out facing God without having to add extra time for it—or to feel extra holy. It’s letting God out of the compartmentalized box of Sunday service and daily prayer time. And welcoming Him into everything.
Areas of Opportunity to Establish Your Rhythms
This book addresses waking to bedtime and every major part of the day between:
- Work
- Play
- Conversations
- Mealtimes
- Discipline
- Marriage
- Screentime
- Family Devotions
Justin Whitmel Earley clearly lays out what children need emotionally and developmentally. He shares his own personal family stories—the failures and the triumphs. He offers beautiful ideas to implement within each daily category. Let me tell you: I took notes. Not just notes, but I made a complete to-do list that would shape our family culture for the better. When I get good at video, I’ll grab the book, let the pages whir, and let you catch a glimpse of how much I marked up this book with underlines, highlights, hearts, and stars. As well as the notes I wrote along the margins.
Implementing Your Chrisitan Family Rhythms
I wrote my to-do list on an index card—one to-do for each area Earley lists. I posted it on the fridge as a reminder and to hold myself accountable every time I walked past. It wasn’t long before these things became habit.
One of my bedtime favorites (and one we literally just did together) goes something like this :
(To my daughter)
“Do you see my eyes?”
She nods. Or smiles.
“Do you see that my eyes see your eyes?”
Another nod and smile.
“Do you know how much I love you?”
She does.
“Do you know that nothing you do could make me love you more than I do right now?”
Another nod.
“Do you know that nothing you do could make me love you less?
Do you know who else loves you like that?”
She points to the ceiling.
“Rest in that.”
And I kiss her forehead.
Or if you need a faster one, I like this:
“You’ve got Got above you, Jesus who died for you, and the Holy Spirit within you. Rest well in that.”
We’ve got short and sweet morning scriptures-turned-prayers, too:
“Here we are, Lord, your servants are listening.” And “This is the day You’ve made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”
Short. Sweet. Powerful.
But I’ll stop now—before I too, write a book.
It’s not often I make it to the last page of whatever I’m reading. If I do, it gets my recommendation.
By the way, I’d love to hear yours!
P.S. This book reminds me of my FREE Faith Forming Family Habit Tracker. Check it out!