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?
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.
Parents, your children need to know they’re loved unconditionally and that you won’t condemn them when they mess up. Talk straight, get close, and let grace overflow in your home.
You can’t choose your family, but you can choose how you relate to them. It’s never too late to start extending grace.
One definition for family is “a museum of memories.” As you think of your family, what pictures hang in the gallery of your mental images? What kind of memories are you creating for your family now?
The secret of staying young is within you. It has nothing to do with where you live, how much money you make, who you’re married to, or how your kids turn out. It has everything to do with your attitude.
Even in the midst of a crisis, it is possible to find peace. When the bottom drops out Jesus Christ will give you the strength you need. Why not put your trust in Him today?
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Insight for Living is committed to excellence in communicating the truths of Scripture and the Person of Jesus Christ in an accurate, clear, and practical manner so that people will come to an understanding of God’s plan for their lives, as well as their significant role as authentic Christians in a needy, hostile, and desperate world.
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