Harriet Connor

Author of Big Picture Parents

Tag: Creation

Family holidays are worth it!

What are your strongest memories of family holidays growing up? Was it the time when you saw your parents finally relax and have fun with you? Was it that amazing mountaintop view or waterfall swim? Was it the bushwalk that went horribly wrong? Or was it the time you went camping and it rained the whole time?

The truth is that holidays are more important for our families than we realise. And holidays are about much more than just having fun. After all, our families remember and talk about the bad holidays as much as we do the good ones.

A family holiday gets us out of our normal environment and routine and so it provides a great opportunity for us to reconnect—with each other, with God’s creation and with God through his word.

But planning a holiday is hard work, which makes it hard to prioritise.

That’s why Youthworks is excited to announce the launch of a brand new program, Getaways, which will help more families to enjoy time away together in God’s creation. Let Youthworks do the organising for you!

In our latest Timeless Parenting conversation, we chatted with Sam Hudson from Youthworks’ Getaways program about how to holiday well as a family.

More about Getaways

Getaways offers immersive outdoor adventures and experiences that celebrate God’s creation and strengthen family bonds. Each Getaway is designed to help families disconnect to reconnect. Disconnection from the built environment, social commitments and technology allows us to be reconnected to God’s creation, his people and his Son. It’s fair to say that quality time with family is rarely experienced without quantity time, such as a family holiday. We’re confident that these experiences are great value for money and will make memories to last a lifetime.

You can enjoy these programs in three different ways: Parent–Child Adventures, Family Adventures and Family Holidays.

Head to the Getaways website to find out more.

 

Should we limit our family size for the sake of the planet?

Recently I was speaking to an old friend about the topic of creation care and climate change. Among other things, she suggested that having fewer children was better for the planet. She believes that since global overpopulation is threatening the sustainability of the earth, Christians have a duty to avoid having and promoting large families.

Indeed, a study released in 2017 came to the conclusion that having one less child would reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 58 tonnes per year—far more than selling your car, avoiding long flights or becoming a vegetarian.

I know some Christians who have taken this to heart and decided to limit their family to two children. They see this as a way of loving their global neighbours who would be the most affected by climate change.

To get a broader perspective, I asked a handful of others to contribute their thoughts for this article.

The twin creation mandates

Christians who prioritise creation care are seeking to live out our God-given mandate to rule over—or ‘work and take care of’—the creation on God’s behalf (Genesis 1:26–29; 2:15). But this mandate is inextricably linked with another: to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. We have and raise children to become our co-workers and eventually our successors in carrying out our first creation mandate from God.

Keep reading over at Growing Faith, a Christian online magazine for parents. Find out more about Growing Faith and subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter here.

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