The week of January 7th – During the month of January, your family will focus on the virtue of commitment. Each week you will gather together and reflect on the nature of commitment and what you feel committed to. Find a time this week to gather as a family, say a prayer, read or listen to a prompt, respond as a family to what you have heard and then act on the suggestion for the week.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
January Virtue Commitment: making a plan and putting it into practice
What is a virtue? A virtue is something that God does in us to change the world around us.
GATHER together in prayer
LISTEN through scripture; readings; stories; music; videos
RESPOND to what you have heard
ACT in service to what God is calling you to
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
GATHER
Gather together as a family and pray this prayer:
A Prayer of Self-Dedication
(The Episcopal Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 832)
Almighty and eternal God,
So draw our hearts to you,
So guide our minds,
So fill our imaginations,
So control our wills,
That we may be wholly yours,
Utterly dedicated to you;
And then use us,
We pray,
As you will,
And always to your glory
And the welfare of your people,
Through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
LISTEN
Listen to this Story Corps story recorded by Frank Scott as he remembers his father, Wendell Scott (Driven): https://storycorps.org/animation/driven/
RESPOND
Wendell Scott spent his life committed to being a race car driver even though he didn’t get the recognition he deserved because he was African American. His son quotes his father as saying, “When it’s tough for everybody else, it’s just right for me.” Commitment is making a plan and putting it into practice. What do you think Wendell Scott’s plan was? How do you think he put it into practice? Why do you think he was so committed to being a race car driver? Was his commitment worth it?
ACT
Commitment to someone or something takes time and energy and focus. There are times throughout our lives when we commit ourselves is one way or another. As a family talks about some of the things each of you feel you are committed to right now. Why are your commitments important to you? How do you prioritize your commitments? What do you do to follow through on the commitments you make?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Food for Thought
Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans. Peter F. Drucker
It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up. Vince Lombardi
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do. Epictetus