Eight habits of a successful family

Eight habits of a Successful FamilyWhat you do with your family is a choice. You can blame your circumstances or bring on better choices. With your help via email, Facebook etc, I have come up with what I think are the top 8 habits of a successful family. I’m sure there are more but here is my short list. 1. Discipline is consistent and full of loveYou have t o teach children not to be disobedient.Proverbs 22:15 says “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction drives it far from him.”In his/her early years, your child does not need YOU to be their best friend. There will be time for that latter on. They need you to be strong in what you believe are the RIGHT things! 2. Blessings are declaredIn reference to Isaac “By faith (he) blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future” Heb 11:203. Embrace and learn from the tough timesSuccessful families face their problems learn from the problem and then depend on God’s grace and power to help the GROW. 4. Be quick to forgiveEphesians 4:32 “Come on and be ye kind, one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another; even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you...”The word “courteous” comes from the behavior of people who used to live in the king’s “court.” Strong families show kindness, respect, and practice courtesy with each other. Forgiveness is an imperative family courtesy.5. Family time is a priorityThis one speaks for itself doesn’t it? 6. Eat togetherTake the lead from Jesus on this. Many times Christ would share a life changing conversation with His disciples while eating with them.I watched a family attempt to eat lunch together one Sunday while my family and I were in a local restaurant. The Father talked on his cell phone more than he talked with his wife and kids. You may need to make some changes. If your family eats in shifts, or if the television is blaring during mealtime, you may want to work on getting everyone together and attempt to set up some rules agreeable to everyone. 7. Express love every day“Dead noses smell no roses.”It all begins with a husband and wife who love each other and aren’t ashamed to show their kids they are in love.If you are a single parent and do not have parents to express love to, then you need to adopt an older person that you can show love and respect to, if for no other reason than to be an example to your children. 8. Jesus Christ is the center“Now huge crowds were going along with [Jesus], and He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters--[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple.” ~ Luke 14:25-27 (Amplified)Simply put – Love your family and your life to the max but your love for Jesus has to be comparatively speaking like you hate your family. He is very serious about being FIRST!I certainly don’t have all the answers but as a Father I’ve been blessed with a lot of grace! I hope this has been helpful.mb