Strong Families & Marriage Creating an Environment to Thrive

Family. The dictionary defines family as two things – a traditional family and a single parent family:

Noun, plural families.

A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not:
The traditional family.
A social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for:
a single-parent family.

However, a family is much more. Family can be a support network – your church “family,” your “extended family” even your work “family.”

Strong Families

Strong families support each other in good times and in bad. They know you. They know your weaknesses and your strengths. They are willing to walk with you through the difficult times that come.

Creating an environment to foster a strong marriage and a strong family means being intentional. You are intentional about spending quality time together, communicating with one another, setting aside time each day where you “unplug” from the electronics – smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Affirm each other rather than tearing each other down – your spouse and your family are your biggest cheerleaders, and you are theirs.

Strong Families & Strong Marriages are a choice

So many, many people look at marriage and family as disposable items. Perhaps Jim & I are in the minority, but we choose to approach our marriage as non-negotiable, non-disposable; no matter what the issue is, we will work it out. That does not mean that there are times that we don’t like each other. That does not mean that there are times that either one of us is madder than a wet hen at the other. Certainly, those times exist. But we CHOOSE to love, even in the midst of turmoil. We CHOOSE to stay married and work things out together, no matter what.

Strong Families – Strong Marriages Means Working as a Team

“Ready About” “Hard-alee” “Gybe-ho” “Trim the Sail” “Man Overboard” – these are all sailing terms that require the sailing team to work together. Jim and I have been sailing & boating together as a team for 29 years.If one of us is out of sync, our teamwork is out of sync. We are a strong team, together. When we pursue our own agendas, our teamwork fails; but when we both know the end goal – in sailing it is to reach a certain destination – and how we are going to reach it, we work as a team. Strong families and strong marriages work because there is clear and open communication. Just like when you are sailing, you need clear and open communication. You are working toward an end goal.

Conflict Resolution Helps Build Strong Families & Strong Marriages

Stubbornness. Arguments. Wanting your own way. We’ve all been there. But it’s all in how you choose to diffuse the situation before it deteriorates into something larger. Love is so much bigger than conflict. Love is much stronger than conflict – a perfect illustration of this is the song “The Glory of Love” that Bette Midler sang in the movie “Beaches:

The Glory of Love

This is a song I’ve been singing for a long time. It’s like an old friend. But, you know, I think it, it’s only recently that I discovered what it’s really about.

You’ve got to give a little, take a little, and let your poor heart break a little. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.

You’ve got to laugh a little, cry a little, until the clouds roll by a little. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.

As long as there’s the two of us, we’ve got the world and all its charms. And when the world is through with us, we’ve got each other’s arms.

You’ve got to win a little, lose a little, yes, and always have the blues a little. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love. That’s the story of, that’s the glory of love.

Songwriters: Billy Hill

The Glory of Love lyrics © Shapiro Bernstein & Co.

The Glory of Love illustrates that two (or more!) have each other, and they can face anything – together. And that, in this writer’s opinion, is the key to a strong marriage and a strong family.

One of the ways that Jim & I resolve conflict is by injecting humor – this helps to break the tenseness of the situation, allows us to step back and clearly see the other’s point of view.

Tips to Foster a Strong Marriage & Family

Spend quality time together
Work together as a team – this can be a sports activity, project, or even cooking a meal together
“Unplug” from the electronics
Open communication
Postive affirmation
Travel together – not only does travel open your eyes to new cultures & traditions, it really can be a “Life Saver”
Read together (the books featured in our giveaway are a great beginning!
- Boundaries by Henry Cloud
- Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
- The 5 Languages of Apology by Gary Chapman

Enter the Strong Family Giveaway

Strong families & marriages area choice & require team work. Your family is strong together. www.betsiworld.com/strong-family-strong-marriage-creating-environment-to-thrive

To help you foster an environment that builds strong families & marriages, enter the Strong Family Giveaway below: a Rafflecopter giveaway Participating co-hosts are DanielleTate.org, The Sparrows Home, Full Time Homeschool Mom, Inspired by Lucile, Betsi’s World, Cherished Magazine, A Book Lover’s Adventures, and Paradise Praises. Terms: No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories and wherever prohibited by law. Subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Decisions of ParadisePraises.com are final on all matters pertaining to Giveaway. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and decisions of ParadisePraises.com. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Participation in the giveaway is consent to receive email from sponsors. This is how winners will be notified and announced and digital prizes delivered. Prizes cannot be transferred or returned for cash value. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or in association with the authors of publishers of prizes, Rafflecopter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or any other social media network. Chances of winning vary based on the final number of entrants. Giveaway ends April 11, 2018, at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be chosen randomly and notified by email on or before April 20, 2017. Each winner has 48 hours to respond or they may forfeit prize. Paradise Praises will be responsible for prize fulfillment. If you have any questions, please contact katie {at} paradisepraises {dot} com. FelizPreneur LLC, Po Box 416, Andrews, NC 28901.