Our family bonds are the building blocks for every other relationship in our lives. We are around them the most, they have the most opportunity to see us at our truest self, and it is our opportunity to be vulnerable and still loved for (or in spite of) who we are. Parenting is no easy task. It requires immense amounts of personal sacrifice, and depends on constant demonstrations of love and respect.
Certainly,
God wants our families to succeed and prosper. God wants us to
have spiritually healthy families so we can produce godly offspring (Malachi
2:15) and expand His family.
But
while family relationships are important, we all know strong families don’t
“just happen.” Sustaining a marriage and raising children are challenging
things to do. If we want to have happy homes, we have to work hard to create
them
because while friends come and go Family
is forever.
1.
Quality Family time Together
Quality family time is about making the most of the
time you spend together as a family. Between long workweeks, school activities
and household chores, family time can be hard to come by. Still, healthy
families always find time to be together, no matter how busy they think they
are. They know that time spent together is crucial.
Family time could mean engaging in shared
activities—eating meals together, playing games, going on picnics, watching
sporting events, enjoying recreational activities, etc.—but it doesn’t have to.
“As the Scriptures instruct us (Deuteronomy 6:7), the best time spent together
is everyday casual time, without distractions like TV, music headphones, video
games and smart phones,” “The real key to building relationships is to spend
time together in all types of circumstances, including mundane, daily
activities.”
2.
Positive and constructive communication
Positive communication is about listening without
judgment and expressing your own thoughts and feelings openly and respectfully.
Much of their communication occurs while they are
spending time together. To understand each other, family members have to invest
the time necessary to share their feelings, opinions, concerns and perspectives.
No subject is considered off-limits. It helps everybody feel understood,
respected and valued, and this strengthens your relationships.
Healthy families also work at developing constructive
communication skills. This includes learning to be open and honest, but still
speaking in a loving manner (Ephesians 4:15)—focusing on the kind of
conversation that builds others up rather than the type that tears them down
(Ephesians 4:29); listening carefully, without distractions; and not
“mind-reading” or jumping to false conclusions when another person is speaking.
By practicing good communication skills, family members show they respect and
are genuinely interested in each other.
3.
Appreciate Each Other
Appreciation and Valuing each other is at the heart of
good family relationships and helps to motivate family members to continue to
behave in a positive way toward each other. When we treat others, especially
our family members, as we would hope and want to be treated, then we can
achieve the fruits of a high-functioning family,
It also helps build confidence within a person, so we
have the wherewithal to meet obstacles that are inevitably going to come our
way. It also helps build confidence within a person, so we have the wherewithal
to meet obstacles that are inevitably going to come our way.”
It should be expressed frequently, both verbally and
with meaningful gestures. Let them know you enjoy spending time with them. Done
sincerely, expressions of love and appreciation deepen the bond between family
members and strengthen the family unit.
Summing Up
No matter what you choose, any time you spend
investing in your family is well spent. These simple times creating family
connection strengthen your family bond. Be present, be YOU, and choose to
connect with those closest to you. You’re creating the most important bonds of
your life, teaching your children how to relate to the world around them, and
making memories that will last a lifetime.
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