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Chapter 14

Families who are characterized by these

six character strengths: commitment,

appreciation and affection, positive

communication, time together, spiritual

well-being, and the ability to cope with

stress and crisis, are better able to meet the

challenges of raising a family in today’s

complex world. Their united strengths

enable them to draw upon one another’s

resources. They become a source of

strength to one another and an example to

other families.We need to keep in mind

that both individually and collectively as

families, the source of our strength is in

Christ.As we looked at in the beginning of

this chapter, what wecannotdo in our

own strength, Godcando in His strength

through us.

Successful families celebrate their sense

of family and its strength. They look for

positive ways to develop new family

strengths. Most of all, strong families give

credit to God for carrying them through

life’s many complexities. Strong families

realize Jesus Christ became a human being

by being born into a family. They

understand the Father and the Son enjoy a

relationship which is a family relationship.

And strong families accept that they, as

God’s image-bearers, are called to honor

family in all its stages, assuring that family

remains the foundational building block

of contemporary society.

A Christian Perspective

Research has identified six major

qualities or themes common to strong

families across the globe. These

qualities are commitment, appreciation

and affection, positive communication,

time together, spiritual well-being, and

the ability to cope with stress and

crisis.

The family who modelscommitment

sets family goals, practices family

traditions, develops family history, and

is willing to sacrifice for family unity.

The family who modelsappreciation

and affectioncommunicates in word

and action, deals constructively with

conflict, remembers the “little things,”

and treats family like “company.” These

families appreciate the unique

contributions of each family member.

Family members express love and

respect freely, not as a way to buy love,

but as a way to express sincere affection.

The family who modelspositive

communicationmakes time to talk,

speaks clearly, learns to listen actively,

acknowledges and identifies the other

person’s feelings, and avoids statements

which will invalidate what another is

feeling.

Summary