A Better Understanding of Others
Taking a systematic view of marriage
and family life will enable you to better
comprehend the world in which you and
your family operate.People are strongly
influenced by their family relationships.
To really understand another person,you
need to begin to understand that person
in the context of family.Even single
persons are influenced by the family
system in which they grew up.Family
gives people a worldview,values,
perspectives,and attitudes about how
things work.If someone’s worldview
differs from yours,look into that person’s
family background and you will begin to
understand the how and why of that
worldview.
A Way to Derail Misconceptions
People enter marriage and family
relationships with a wealth of
misconceptionsandmisperceptions:Isn’t
loveallweneed?IfbothofusareChristians,
won’tGodprotectourmarriage?Don’t
Christianparentsproducegoodchildren?
Thistextwilldispelsomecommon
mythsaboutmateselection,marriage,and
parenting.Withanobjectiveunderstanding
of marriageandfamilylife,youshouldbe
betterequippedtopreventorderail
disillusionmentinyourfuturerelationships.A Way to Minister to OthersChristiansarecalledtomakea
differenceintheworld.Whatbetterplace
tomakeadifferencethanwithinyourown
family?Mostpeoplearenotcalledtoa
foreigncountrytoperformmissionwork;
theycanfindmissionworkrightintheir
owncommunities.Byunderstandingthe
varietiesof waysof“doing”family,students
canhelpthosearoundthemactualizethe
bestmarriageandfamilyrelationships
possible.Awordof cautionhere:donot
anticipatebecominganexpertmarriage
andfamilytherapistbasedononecourse.
Thisbookwillenableyoutogive“friendly
Christianadvice”toyouracquaintances,
butitwilltakeyearsof studyandpractice
tomasterthefieldof familytherapy.If you
encounterfriendswhoneedhelpwith
marriageandfamilyissues,bereadyto
referthemtoexperthelp(forexample,
therapistlocator.comisasitewhichlists
professionalsinmarriageandfamily
therapy).Why Marriage and Family?- Retirement or senior years—
Welcoming new family members or
seeing others leave your family are
hallmarksofthisstage.Thesubsequent
freedom from childrearing
responsibilities allows retirees or
seniors to enjoy the fruits of their
work.