A TO Z OF FAMILY VALUE BUILDERS

A TO Z OF FAMILY VALUE BUILDERS

1) A is for ACCOMMODATE – It is important for family members to accommodate each other’s different personalities and habits, respecting each other’s differences and likes and dislikes and try to let everyone have their own space to be themselves

2) B is for BRAINSTORM – It is good to have a family meeting every now and then to brainstorm where to go for a family outing, or how to spend a holiday, or how to solve a common problem. All suggestions must be heard, no matter how silly, with each one entitled to give their own opinions!

3) C is for CREATIVE – Try to do something creative together as a family. Maybe each one can add their own bit to a family drawing or painting. Maybe the family can do some handicrafts together, or write a poem together – one line from each family member

4) D is for DELEGATE – It is good for parents to delegate certain jobs to their children according to their ability and maturity. It is important to teach children responsibility from a young age

5) E is for ENJOY – It is always important to find some particular activity all the family members enjoy and do it together, maybe once a week. It could be swimming or going to the park or zoo. We must remember to take time to enjoy together as a family

6) F is for FRIENDSHIP – Family members must also remember to be friends to one another, to be willing to lend a ear, and spend time one-on-one with each other to build the friendships. Husband and wife, father and son, mother and daughter, brother and sister, brother and brother. 

7) G is for GLORIFYING GOD – It is important to praise God together as a family. Praise God when we find a parking place, Praise God when a kid almost falls down but finds his feet again. “Praise God” should be heard often in the family.

8) H is for HEAR – Quite often, we are too preoccupied with our own selves to hear the needs of our family members. We have to discipline our ears to really hear when our family members speak.

9) I is for INVEST – The best thing we can invest in to build our marriages and family is to invest time to build them up. In this age where expenses are high and most families have both father and mother working, there is not much time left for the children. However, some parents have sacrificed a higher salary to have more time to spend with children and build them up and they will surely be rewarded. We need to find ways to invest time in our children.

10) J is for JOURNEY – It is a good practice to go away together as a family somewhere far away once in a while. There is a difference in spending time together in a different place somehow.

11) K is for KISS – Remember to kiss your wife or husband. Kiss your children and show affection. Even for older teens, a kiss on the forehead and a hug at least. There is also power in a physical affection.

12) L is for LOVE – Love is patient, love is kind. There are just so many elements of loving each other in the family, but the main point is learning to care more for a family member than yourself.

13) M is for MENTOR – Parents need to also see themselves as mentors with the duty to train and guide their children as they grow up to be like themselves. In certain areas, husband and wife can also mentor each other to help each other improve.

14) N is for NATURE – It is good for parents and children to together learn to appreciate the beauty of nature – go to places where nature is beautiful, learn to appreciate the beauty of the clouds, the trees and the stars. Have a pet, even fish or insects and appreciate them together.

15) O is for OBEY – Children need to learn to obey their parents, especially from a young age, and to obey authority, like teachers, the traffic rules, school rules, God’s rules. Parents too must show good example by obeying the law.

16) P is for PRAYER – Parents and children should always pray together and for each other. This is one of the most important practices to keep the family together.

17) Q is for QUIET – Sometimes, it is nice to be quiet together, read, rest, enjoy each family member’s presence without having to speak for a time.

18) R is for RESPECT – Children must be taught to respect their parents, respect elders, respect people in general, and parents must also respect children. They are also people, although they are small, and we must acknowledge and respect their feelings even while we are correcting them

19) S is for SHARE – Family members should share easily with each other, their food, thoughts, games, toys, dreams. There should be a sense of community among the family members where each one shares easily with each other

20) T is for THANKFUL – Sometimes, family members fight, sometimes we become angry, but we must never forget to be thankful to God for putting that family member in our lives.

21) U is for UNDERSTANDING – A major part of learning to be understanding is to be able to place ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Family members should always try to understand each other – their frustrations, their likes and dislikes, their little habits and wants.

22) V is for VISION – Each one of us should have the vision of a happy, loving, united family and pray and hope for that to be true in our daily family lives. Even in bad times, we must come back to that vision and work towards it.

23) W is for WORD – It is good and fitting for families to read the Bible together, and be blessed together.

24) X is for X-RAY – Sometimes we need to use our “inner X-Ray vision” to look beyond the obvious. A family member may say she is fine but is actually hurting inside. We need to be more aware and take time to find out what may be troubling a family member.

25) Y is for YOUTHFUL – Parents and children need to be youthful, playful together sometimes and not be so serious. Having fun together bonds the family very well.

26) Z is for ZEALOUS – Zealous means passionate, fervent. We need to be zealous about keeping our family together and being united and happy together.

May God bless our families and help us grow together to be healthy, loving, united family always. God bless, Jason