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Building Strong Families

family history. An excellent way to do

this is to encourage family members to

talk to older relatives about their lives

(where they lived, what their family

upbringing was like, what kind of

lifestyles they lived, what they did for a

living). In the process, the family will

learn more about its ancestry and

cultural heritage. Use a tape recorder to

capture these stories and save them for

the future. This can be a fun activity for

every family member, including young

children.

Sacrifice for Unity

In times of trouble, strong families

remain loyal to each other and work on

their problems together. They see

themselves as a team, with a family

identity and a sense of unity. When

outside pressures such as work threaten to

upset family priorities, strong families will

make the necessary sacrifices to safeguard

family well-being.

Interestingly, sacrifice in strong families

also includesaltruism—selfless concern for

the welfare of others. The highest family

values include human virtues—

compassion, concern, and altruism. These

virtues build strong kids, strong families,

and strong communities.

Appreciation and Affection

Just as God loves each of us, the

members of strong families love one

another. They appreciate the unique

contributions of each family member. In

what ways do families express

appreciation and affection?

Communicate in Word and Action

Strong family members express their

appreciation for one another in words

and actions. They verbally communicate

how special each member is—not just

because ofwhateach persondoes, but

because ofwhoeach personis. In the

hustle and bustle of daily life, it is easy to

fall into the habit of taking each other for

granted, forgetting the importance of

letting family members know how much

they are appreciated.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
—John 3:16

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate
us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor
our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers
of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power
in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate
us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:38–39 NLT