Family. The dictionary defines family as two things – a traditional family and a single parent family:
- 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
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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
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.
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Betsi,
You are a shining gem!
Thanks for the insight, advice, anecdotes.
Keep’em coming.
Martha
Thanks! Hope all is well with the rolling nomads!