Love God, Love Others, Serve the World...

February 5, 2009

View Your Family as a Team

A sense of teamwork exists in a healthy family. In unhealthy families individuals focus on themselves rather than the good of others, resulting in divisiveness and competition.

The Bible gives illustrations of families who lacked a sense of teamwork and the results were disastrous. Some families, like Abraham with his two sons Isaac and Ishmael in the Old Testament, were torn because of disunity. When Isaac grew up, he didn't do much better than his father. Isaac and Rebekah took favorites. Dad favored Esau and Mom favored Jacob resulting in their family splitting up. You'd think they'd learn, but then comes the story of Jacob and his twelve sons. Dad favored Joseph creating more sibling conflict. A lack of teamwork in the family was passed on from generation to generation.

You may choose to call your family a team sometimes just to communicate the unity you share. When a job needs to be done, the "Smith Team" pulls together. You may work hard to clean up the house, or build a garden, or do yard work. Then you also have special privileges together as a family, going out to eat, playing games, or having ice cream.

Family commitment reveals itself differently in each family. In some cases it means all showing up at sporting events for the children or working together on a paper route. In another it means guarding the dinner hour, requiring that the family be together at that time, making dinner a significant social event. The family enjoys unity as its members share activities, experiences, and common struggles.

As you talk about teamwork and unity your family will recognize the benefits and see the privileges associated with being a part of your family.

For more practical ideas on developing honor in your family take a look at the book, Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes, In You and Your Kids by Dr Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.