![]() ![]() We've got to strike a balance in our families so that wisdom and fairness prevails in the end.įinally, and most importantly in our attempt to foster peace and unity within our families, there must be Christ. On the other hand, some children act like spoiled brats who operate with a sense of personal entitlement for whatever they want at whatever cost to their parents. Certain spouses seem to adhere to the idea that "It's my way or the highway!" Some parents are like cantankerous ogres who never consider their children's legitimate wishes and desires. A healthy family will be characterized by give and take. What I mean is that everything - within reason - should be open to negotiation in our families. I'm not talking about compromising the truth or our moral values in any way. Reflect back to the other person what you have grasped from their words to give them the opportunity to clarify any misconceptions.įourth comes compromise. Listen with your heart and speak with honesty and humility. We must take down our defenses and open our ears and minds so we can take in what our family members are trying to get across to us. ![]() To communicate effectively necessitates more listening than talking, more concentration than jumping to hasty conclusions, more clarification than condemnation. We must demonstrate mercy and kindness to one another, being patient, understanding and forgiving. And it is more than just something we feel it's what we do. Why is it that we often tend to hurt the ones we should love the most through our unkind words, pettiness, envy, angry outbursts and bitterness toward each other? To demonstrate compassion in the home means to develop a genuinely caring and considerate heart - one that sympathizes and empathizes with the various struggles, fears and difficulties we each possess. Second is the all-important characteristic of compassion. What level of sacrifice are we willing to make for the health and wholeness of our family units? Family ought to walk in when the world walks out on us. Whether we're a spouse, parent, child, sibling or all of the above, we need to think long and hard about how committed we are to our families' basic physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. Selfishness and self-centeredness can easily get in the way of harmony and happiness in the home. ![]() It seems these days that marriages and families are frequently viewed as temporary - even throwaway - conveniences. The first essential key to developing family unity is commitment. The question I am seeking to answer in today's column is as follows: How can we go about building (or restoring) family unity and making our families stronger? I believe that there are at least five important keys to consider, each of which begins with the letter "C." Even within the church we often struggle to keep our families together and on track. It doesn't take us looking to far to observe the tragic reality that the traditional family is under full frontal attack in America with many powerful evil forces vying against it. However, the answer I was most impressed with was that our families' primary purpose is to point to God and bring praise to him through our godly examples. ![]() Others alluded to goals of parental nurturance, spiritual growth and personal development. Some persons felt that our families exist to provide safety and security for persons in the home. Last Saturday, I was blessed with the privilege and opportunity of presenting a special seminar for the Sitka Church of Christ in Milan on "How to Build Family Unity." It was inspiring to hear feedback on various participants' insightful ideas regarding the meaning and purpose of family. ![]()
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