Why Should I Strengthen My Family?
One of the first things I noticed about members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when I was first finding out about the Church, was that family was very much at the centre of it all. Having been a member for a very long time (Twenty-something years) I can confirm that this very much is the case and to be honest I love it, because as I'm sure you've worked out by now; Family is rather important to me.
This week, for Scripture Study, we've been studying the first few chapters of First Nephi, in The Book of Mormon and knowing what we would be talking about in Young Women's and in the Priesthood Quorum lessons (the latter where Dan Jon will be and the former where Top Ender and I will be) I've been thinking about how each member of a family plays a part in making a family strong, in making it a loving environment, in making it the best family for those who are a part of it.
I think one of the first things that I thought about was that all families are different, but have ultimately the same goal. All parents* want what is best for their children, they want them to be safe and happy and to be able to grow up and do what makes them happy and successful.
In our home, we manifest this in many different ways.
We encourage all family members to study and learn. We encourage all family members to do things that they find interesting or they get enjoyment from. We do chores together. We spend time together. We pray together. We read Scriptures together. We sing together. We cook together. We eat meals together. We support one another during trials. We serve one another. We serve with each other. We celebrate each others successes and commiserate with each other's failures. We share jokes. We share memes. We share hobbies. We share dreams.
There are also thousands of other ways that I haven't listed because it isn't the list of what we do that is important.
What is important, is that this isn't something that just I do, or just Flyfour does.
It is something that each family member is responsible for, so Flyfour, Top Ender, Dan Jon and I each have responsibility for our little unit of four to each other. We also share a responsibility with our extended family, the Aunties and Uncles, Grandparents and Parents, Cousins and Nieces and Nephews and all those other family members that we love and who love us right back.
Even if you feel that nobody else in your family is trying to strengthen your family, you can still make a difference.
You can forgive. You can encourage. You can serve. You can grow. You can love.
I can personally testify that each attempt you make at strengthening your family blesses you. It may be that you are able to build a closer relationship with a family member, or that you will be able to hold your tongue for longer when a family member really winds you up. I know that because those are two blessings that I've been given and two blessings I am really grateful for too.
In the end, I guess it all comes down to just one reason as to why you should strengthen your family; You get out of it, what you put in.
*Okay, you got me there.
There are some bad parents out there and if you were unlucky enough to have been given those I am so sorry that you were dealt a crappy hand. You didn't deserve that because you are amazeballs!
There is however good news, I volunteer to become your non-crappy parent. Seriously, you are now my child and I love you.
You want to email me and tell me your good news? Go for it.
You want to DM me and tell me you've had a crappy day? Go for it.
You want to share pictures of your babies/holiday/most treasured possession/new shoes/home/anything else? GO FOR IT! Send them over my sweet child, I wanna see!
I am going to pray for you every morning and night, I am going to hold you in my heart and you are going to know that you are loved unconditionally because that is what I am doing for you as of this very second.
This week, for Scripture Study, we've been studying the first few chapters of First Nephi, in The Book of Mormon and knowing what we would be talking about in Young Women's and in the Priesthood Quorum lessons (the latter where Dan Jon will be and the former where Top Ender and I will be) I've been thinking about how each member of a family plays a part in making a family strong, in making it a loving environment, in making it the best family for those who are a part of it.
I think one of the first things that I thought about was that all families are different, but have ultimately the same goal. All parents* want what is best for their children, they want them to be safe and happy and to be able to grow up and do what makes them happy and successful.
In our home, we manifest this in many different ways.
We encourage all family members to study and learn. We encourage all family members to do things that they find interesting or they get enjoyment from. We do chores together. We spend time together. We pray together. We read Scriptures together. We sing together. We cook together. We eat meals together. We support one another during trials. We serve one another. We serve with each other. We celebrate each others successes and commiserate with each other's failures. We share jokes. We share memes. We share hobbies. We share dreams.
There are also thousands of other ways that I haven't listed because it isn't the list of what we do that is important.
What is important, is that this isn't something that just I do, or just Flyfour does.
It is something that each family member is responsible for, so Flyfour, Top Ender, Dan Jon and I each have responsibility for our little unit of four to each other. We also share a responsibility with our extended family, the Aunties and Uncles, Grandparents and Parents, Cousins and Nieces and Nephews and all those other family members that we love and who love us right back.
Even if you feel that nobody else in your family is trying to strengthen your family, you can still make a difference.
You can forgive. You can encourage. You can serve. You can grow. You can love.
I can personally testify that each attempt you make at strengthening your family blesses you. It may be that you are able to build a closer relationship with a family member, or that you will be able to hold your tongue for longer when a family member really winds you up. I know that because those are two blessings that I've been given and two blessings I am really grateful for too.
In the end, I guess it all comes down to just one reason as to why you should strengthen your family; You get out of it, what you put in.
*Okay, you got me there.
There are some bad parents out there and if you were unlucky enough to have been given those I am so sorry that you were dealt a crappy hand. You didn't deserve that because you are amazeballs!
There is however good news, I volunteer to become your non-crappy parent. Seriously, you are now my child and I love you.
You want to email me and tell me your good news? Go for it.
You want to DM me and tell me you've had a crappy day? Go for it.
You want to share pictures of your babies/holiday/most treasured possession/new shoes/home/anything else? GO FOR IT! Send them over my sweet child, I wanna see!
I am going to pray for you every morning and night, I am going to hold you in my heart and you are going to know that you are loved unconditionally because that is what I am doing for you as of this very second.