Article #13
Family Togetherness with a Spiritual Connection
Balanced self-care movement
God created the first family with Adam and Eve. “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22). Believers build strong, successful families on a shared faith in God.
A healthy family teaches its members, by example, how to live a balanced, Christian lifestyle. We don’t get to choose which areas in our lives we will choose God’s way of doing things. “In ALL your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:6). Successful families emphasize the value of an education and the virtues of a strong work ethic, financial responsibility, social etiquette and personal and civic responsibility. All aspects of a person’s life are connected and interrelated to the family directly or indirectly. It all starts in the family!
In most cases, family members (at one time or another) lived together, share a common set of core values and are around one another for long periods of time. Consequently, family members become close and in most cases, want the best for one another. We spend most of our time in the environment of our family. We are all a product of our environment and the people with whom we interrelate. Successful families protect the environments of its members.
Family togetherness certainly does not require a perfect relationship with each family member, but it does involve some sharing, caring and genuine love. Sacrificial love is the best.
The renowned author of the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, Stephen Covey (1997) said that the mission of his family is to create a nurturing place of faith, order, truth, love, happiness, and relaxation and to provide opportunity for each individual to become responsibly independent and effectively interdependent in order to serve worthy purposes in society through understanding and living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
order cheap levitra So, take appropriate cures to prevent low libido and dysfunction. A person is expected to drink lots of water while taking this drug to get its full effectiveness. buy levitra online This results in intense hunger among the diabetic viagra without prescription patients. A man has to have firm erections for pleasurable cialis price sexual activity. Living for Christ in all areas of your life is the foundation for generational survival. Everyone must take care of him/herself in a balanced fashion and serve as a model for others in the family. To survive, no, “thrive,” from generation to generation, a strong foundation must be set and it starts with the family structure where you learn individually and as a unit, “balanced” self-care, God’s way.
Finding ways for family members to stay spiritually connected is one of the most important elements of a healthy family. Researchers cite various suggestions such as following (good, positive) Christian family traditions like worshiping together, enjoying holiday gatherings together, praying together and family reunions.
Traditions can have a way of strengthening the foundation of a family by setting up long-lasting habits (that can lead to a healthy way of life) and trends that can be carried on from one generation to the next. “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Communication helps bind relationships. Family members who communicate one with the other tend to enjoy one another’s company more than those who do not communicate.
Some researchers have espoused playing together and even working on mutually interesting projects together which can serve as healthy activities that families can do to become closer.
Bottom line, follow what the Holy Spirit tells you regarding your family.
Be Blessed,
Joe Dear