Interested in strengthening your family? Then join us for a series on “Building Strong, Healthy Families for Christ.” Over the next months I will write a series of articles on the six traits that help build strong, healthy families. I pray that my readers will think about these six traits, evaluate how their family is doing in each of these areas, and prayerfully work to improve those areas that they are weak in.
Family Shield Ministries, Inc. strives to assist individuals and families in implementing the six traits that build strong, healthy families. Did you know that over 25 years of research has documented that when families possess the following six traits they are stronger and healthier? The six traits include: 1) Commitment, 2) Appreciation and Affection, 3) Positive Communication, 4) Time Together, 5) Spiritual Well-being, and 6) The Ability to Cope with Stress and Crises.
The research, documented in the book Fantastic Families, involved 14,000 families from all walks of life in the United States and 24 other countries. They included families from all walks of life, from those in poverty to those who were wealthy. Some were traditional families where mom stays home and dad works. Others were single parent families, blended families, empty nesters, and extended families.
Some people look at these six traits and say, “Oh, those are easy! Our family is doing fine in all those areas!” But, wait! Is your family committed to each other even in difficult circumstances?
Let me share one story. Betty was committed to keep her family together in a difficult situation. She called to talk with me following a Family Shield radio program. During the program we had talked about prayer. She asked if I would pray for her and her husband. Then she said, “I better tell you why I need your prayers.” Betty told me she recently learned her husband of many years had had a long-term affair. I remember her saying, “He was my best friend. I just can’t get over the hurt! And I can’t stop crying. He can’t understand why I keep crying! He thinks because he told me that he is sorry and that it won’t happen again, that’s all that is necessary.”
Many women would have hired a divorce lawyer. Not Betty. She asked for our prayers. I prayed with her that day. Later we asked others to pray for her. We also shared Christian resources with her, and encouraged her to obtain Christian counseling. She was against counseling at first, but later agreed. She didn’t want a divorce. And, she needed help to get over the hurt and anger she felt toward her husband. We referred her to several Christian counselors. She began seeing one of them soon after that initial call. When Betty first spoke with me she told me, “My husband and I haven’t been inside a church in over 20 years.” During one of our early conversations I told her that God loved her and was walking with her through this challenging time. Later I had a chance to share the Law and Gospel. She and I prayed together. I asked the Lord to forgive her sins, her husband’s sins, and help her and her husband through this difficult time. I also asked her if I could refer her to a Christian congregation in her community. She said “yes.” She visited several churches near her home and found one that she began worshipping at regularly. She later began attending a Bible study at this congregation, too. Her faith grew!
It took many months, and the ability to learn to forgive, but eventually her commitment to the Lord and her marriage paid off.
It’s easy to be committed to your family when things are going smoothly, but what about when things are not going smoothly? Let’s encourage each other to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and preserver of our faith! He left His heavenly home to come into our sin-torn world. He lived a life that you and I cannot live. He was without sin. He willingly went the cross to suffer and die for you and me. God the Father laid the sins of the world upon His Son. The suffering that Jesus endured was for you and every person in your family! It was for every person that lives today! Confess your sins to Him. Accept His forgiveness! And commit your life to the Lord. The Lord will give you strength to be committed to your family, even in difficult situations. “Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living, sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to Him” (John 12:1).
Join us next month as we continue this series on the six traits of healthy families. It will talk about appreciation and affection.
To learn more about ministries, services,
or resources:
Phone: (314) 772-6070
Email: familyshield@familyshieldministries.com
Write:
Family Shield Ministries, Inc., P. O. Box 230015, St. Louis, MO 63123