Shepherd's Candle

Family Night

The job of a shepherd is an important one. Tending to the herd, making sure the pasture provides enough sustenance, and caring for injuries are all a part of a lonely and sometimes isolated job. Yet, it was to shepherds that the angels first appeared to announce the birth of the Savior of the World.

Who are the shepherds in your life? Who cares for the seen and the unseen in your life? Who goes about their day, working diligently to make sure the needs of others are always taken care of, even if their works usually go unnoticed? Look around. Who keeps the kitchen tidy? Who puts gas in the car? Who cleans the lint catcher in the dryer?

As a family, encourage each other to look around and engage in unseen works this week. And then think about what family members can do as acts of kindness for each other, right in you own home. Maybe spend less time on the phone and more time talking. Use conversation starters (see Advent Resource page) at dinner. Make someone's lunch in the morning. Bring someone a hot cup or tea or coffee as they are sitting down to pay the bills. Leave a post-it note on the mirror or in someone's shoes for them to discover in the morning. Let everyone in the home know they are being looked after and cared for as the shepherds did for their flocks!