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MARFAM'S ONLINE NEWSLETTER - festive season 2004 /2005

Marriage and Family Life Renewal Ministry - Johannesburg , South Africa.

Also see our website http://homefun.www.icon.co.za updated regularly for more about MARFAM's ministry and available resources in the local Church. Contact us at marfam@icon.co.za

REQUEST: BEFRIEND THE FAMILY during this INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FAMILY!

MARFAM has been promoting the cause of family life for nearly 10 years. You financial support helps us to operate, produce the publications, including this monthly enewsletter and maintain our website. Advertise your company or project on the website, enewsletter or various publications or send a donation to P.O.Box 2881 , Randburg 2125. South Africa . Every Rand , Dollar or Euro helps to strengthen families somewhere, somehow.

CONTENTS_

— CHOOSE LIFE – ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 2004 for families and children
— EVERY FAMILY A HOLY FAMILY

The 2005 Calendar is on its way, check the website for a peak!

CHOOSE LIFE – ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 2004 for families and children

INTRODUCTION.

Moses was a friend of God, the man who said to the people, “I put before you life and death, good and evil. Choose life.” In our busy lives, especially during Christmas holiday time, it seems we hardly have time to think and pray and do spiritual things. But the theme CHOOSE LIFE applies to what we do all the time, live and breathe and eat and work and play as well as pray. Prayerful living means remembering that God is there all the time, giving us life, keeping us alive.

Living a good life is our choice. We can choose between good and bad, generous and selfish acts. We can take a little time to prepare for the day and to think about what happened at the end of the day and thank God for being there. During the Advent season we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday 2000 years ago. We also prepare for the time when he will come again. Will we be ready for him if he says,

“My child did you choose life or death, good or evil?”

The four weeks of Advent focused on four Old Testament families. Adam and Eve, Abraham and the patriarchs, Moses and David. While reflecting on each of the characters in these biblical stories it can be seen how at times they did and at other time did not choose life.

rom Christmas Day and the feast of the Holy Family on, reflecting on the lives of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, it is clear that this was a family that in spite of serious difficulties did choose life. This family is a model for all our families.

EVERY FAMILY A HOLY FAMILY

There is a family I know who cares for AIDS orphans. There is another family who visits a sick aunt every week. There is a family who chooses to homeschool their children. There is one where parents work long hours so that the children can have a good education. There is a grandmother who cares for five of her grandchildren, and a couple, very much in love, longing for a baby without success. Are these not all holy families, choosing life?

What makes a family holy? We’re all still on the road. Holiness is a way of life and also a destination. Imagine going on a long trip during the holidays and every so often you come across a sign that says Holiness. Would you really want to go there? Do you want your family to be a holy family too? Or do you see holy as being boring, not cool? We sometimes get the impression that holy people are always on their knees praying and never having fun. But being in touch with God can be fun and helpful too. What could be prettier and nicer than something that is whole and not broken> What could be more precious than a favourite vase or dish, or a toy that has been broken and then carefully mended making it whole again.?

Holiness is all those things. It is perfection. It is being carefully and lovingly looked after and also being mended to be whole once more. Probably our families have a bit of all those types of holiness.

Grandparents, moms and dads, are probably a bit battered and babies brand-new, but it is the loving care we give to them all that makes a holy family.

May that be our New Year’s ‘Resolution for 2005; to choose between life and death, good and evil, to choose to become holy. Then we will care for what we have, fix what is broken and ask for help when the task is beyond us. God is there as we heard in all our stories, always ready to pick up pieces, mend and help always ready to start afresh, every day, every year.