There is an epidemic of loneliness in a culture filled with opportunities for connections. In fact, recent research from the University of California Berkley and Cigna estimate that close to 50% of American adults report feeling alone (46%) or left out (47%), and the former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy calls loneliness the silent crisis in our nation. What about families? Many times, loneliness is a matter of how moments are filtered and interpreted.
In our crazy, hectic world, with all the different things family members are involved in, it can seem almost impossible to stay connected and encourage each other in meaningful ways. However, the Bible tells us to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11). God’s Word to the church applies to our families as well. Even though it can be hard to stay connected to your family, it is important. As a family counselor, loneliness and connectedness are two very frequent topics.
With that in mind, one way my family stays connected is by journaling—not for ourselves, but to and for each other. We speak nuggets of truth to one another to help reset the mental filter of life and to help each of us experience connectedness in our home. Words are powerful!
Contributor Journals
Contributor journals help connect the family
My kids, like yours perhaps, participate in sports, school-related events and other activities. It is hard to find time to be together. We have to “hit the brakes” often to find creative ways to connect. Keeping a contributor journal for each member of our family helps us to be intentional and imaginative in our efforts to connect to each other.
A contributor journal is a basic journal we use to write quick messages to one another. These can include a note of encouragement, an inspiring quote, a riddle, a joke, a Bible verse, a quick blessing, or a word of gratitude for what that person means to us.
Therefore, our journals sit at the kitchen table so they can be easily written in.
Before we head out for the day, each of us can look at what’s been written to us. My daughter sometimes takes hers to school to read later. My son reads his before he leaves. My wife loves our notes and will read her journal at any time. And I like taking mine to work, and sometimes on business trips.
While we’re not a perfect family and we may not write every day, we do our best to write in the journals. Still, we always enjoy receiving these notes from one another and our family feels more connected when we do.