Living harmoniously as a family is an ongoing, intentional journey. The beginning of that journey is marked by great anticipation and genuine excitement. A bride and groom have high hopes and great dreams as they start out life together. However, as in all journeys, unexpected challenges pop up, including the arrival of children, which requires the couple to cultivate valuable parenting skills—without a handbook! At each age, from preschool through elementary school, each child requires his or her parents to make adjustments along the way to keep the relationships harmonious. Just about the time parents get their arms around all of that, the teenage years arrive! This stretching and complicated time calls for even more adjustments and a greater willingness to change if the parents hope to sustain harmony in the home. Then, after all that adapting, a new set of challenges arrives—the children reach adulthood, with minds of their own. Can there still be mutual respect and meaningful relationships in the family? Can harmony continue between parents and their grown-up kids? Absolutely! The question is, how?
A family is a place that relates to one another, it’s a place where one member feels pain and is supported by others who encourage him or her in the hurt. A family is a place that listens when others speak. It’s a place that cares.
It’s one thing to retire from work but it’s quite another to retire from life. While it may be tempting to hid away during the retirement years this is the time to stay active, interested, and involved.
Parents only have a short time to raise their children. Approximately 20 years is all we have to accomplish the task of teaching those born in our midst everything we know.
In our “hurry-up” society a grandparent’s patience, understanding, and unconditional love can make a world of difference to a child.
There are two types of success—outside and inside the home. Success in business never makes up for failure in the home. Children don’t need more stuff—the need lots of time and unconditional love.
You probably know by now life isn’t fair. And it’s easy to become bitter because of what happens—but if you don’t forgive you will be trapped in a prison of your own making. Forgiveness is the key to releasing you from bitterness, hatred, and resentment.
Restoring a relationship takes courage and humility, but it’s the right thing to do. Making things right is always worth it.
Just because there isn’t physical violence in your home doesn’t mean there aren’t strained relationships. But hope is not lost! Relationships can be restored and parents, this starts with you.
Here’s a principle for life: Relationships are built on trust and trust is built on truth. Tell the truth.
If your home is a battleground it’s not too late to turn things around. Broken relationships can be mended. It starts with love; a steady stream of love that quickly forgives and refuses to take offence.
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