Goodwin household - Media Fast

Hi All!  Sorry for the long delay since the last post!

We have been luxuriating (seriously!) in the joy of having the TV turned off and media devices put away in the evenings once the work-day is done.  (personal note - the only 'twitch' i have been suffering from is the recurring urge to go and log on my iPad for no apparent reason other than looking for something to do).

An odd side effect has been that the sun now goes down much earlier.  About 8:30 at night we start feeling like it is midnight and the yawns start setting in.   Spencer Crawford (#LoveAndMissSpencerandUrsulaAndMarie = ) was at our house the other night for dinner and by the end of the evening I was struggling to keep my eyes open (we talked for almost 6 hours straight through!).   The Goodwin's are finding that with even a modest reduction in our stimulus uptake - with no media and no gadgets in our hands serving as distraction for even part of the day - we are doing a lot more talking when with one another and a lot more reading and quiet-time when apart.

Having this fast occurring in the midst of Advent filled us (initially) with a sense of dread - one more thing to accommodate we groaned as we gazed at the 40+ items already on the calendar in the month of December!!!  But in truth,  it has been freeing.   Alanna and I have been struggling with our share of trials and frustrations and forgiveness as feelings get trampled by a driven world...but in the midst of all the hard stuff,  the mere act of fasting seems to have introduced a rich texture to the season and an imbued sense of thankfulness we have not experienced in several years.  We have failed at gathering at the table every morning and night to read the daily scriptures and light the daily candles, but on the days we have - the entrance into worshiping God by quieting our hearts and eyes for a few minutes has seemed more natural, more fitting and I think it has a lot to do with the intentionality of choosing to be in a fasted lifestyle already.  Don't get me wrong; the temptations to seek distraction, to get angry at increasingly small details, to lose patience; those are all still coming fast and furious and probably more so as spiritual muscles are flexed,  but the joy of simple participation in the process is clearly, and increasingly worth it.

Our kids are getting older and more intellectual in their demands on us,  but even as that stress amplifies,  with the course of this 7 fast,  we are finding renewed authority to push back and resist the culture of 'I want'...and the intimidating demands of: 'but so and so in my class already has 3 of those!'...  This life of faith and following Jesus and teaching our kids how to love others does not include our making them happy all the time or preventing them from encountering any disappointments - walking this road is about growing in our own friendship with God and teaching them to do the same.

Again,  sorry about the delay in reposting.

Truly today,  Joy to the World.  The Lord will soon be born.

Blessings, on you all:
The Goodwins.