What do you believe makes a wealthy family?
A family member of mine was bragging with pride about the fact that she could buy her children whatever they wanted. Her lips were spread wide into a Cheshire grin as if she had attained her greatest goal.
She was brought up to be a Christian, but she made it clear that she felt it foolish to express any form of sharing Christ by making fun of Christians who worship the Lord. Yet she finds nothing wrong with screaming at concerts over filthy-mouthed rock stars and their scary looking cohorts.
Her husband expressed his desire to share more family oriented activities with her, but she told him to go hang out with his friends.
He found a new friend while his wife was busy enjoying her separate life. His new girlfriend wanted to spend most of her time with him, sharing activities with him that his wife wouldn't.
Feeling dishonest and almost having an emotional breakdown, he left his wife and children, and moved in with his girlfriend. A year or so later they were married.
The first wife appeared to be more upset over losing her two income status than the loss of her childhood sweetheart. How could this happen?
This story makes it apparent that as we put other things before Christ, we create an imbalance which causes what we don't want from within our hearts to happen to us. The seeds of a loving family were in this woman's heart from her childhood, but she allowed money and things to override them.
While we need the proper thinking, we also need the proper actions, even when we don't feel like acting a certain way. In this instance, the wife should have spent loving and quality time with her husband whether she felt like it or not. In time, she would have valued their time together, but now that will never happen!
As parents we need to consider how important this is for our children. While they shouldn't be indulged to have whatever they want, we need to keep Biblical principles first in our marriage to keep a stable home.
They need spiritual growth as well as emotional, physical, and mental growth, and one of the best ways to learn is through our behavior.
Our actions are more effective than if we push them to study the Bible whenever we get the chance. If we do, we'll only chase them away from it. And if we forbid them every pleasure in life through a false piety, they'll run toward every worldly activity they can indulge in as soon as their age permits.
It's all about balance, love, and patience.
Husband and wives, need to love each other and keep it going through difficult times. They need to show their children the strength in a marriage through Christ.
Children need to see Christ in their homes through their parents to learn how to live. They also need to see how we react to mistakes with forgiveness.
This can only be done by a daily interaction with our children. We need to spend time with them, listen to them, and make time to share activities and homework with them.
Dinner is an excellent time to find out about everyone's day and activities. My husband always loved the interaction he had at the dinner table with our children.
It's also important to express affection, otherwise family members can become estranged with one another. One of the first things I learned about affection was that a big smile and a loving hug goes a long way.
I came from a family who was never affectionate, but instead hard and cold. When I had my first daughter, I gave her more affection than my family had given me, but it wasn't always enough.
Sometimes I just didn't know how to get close to her as she grew older, and I lost touch with her emotionally at times when she needed me, but wouldn't let me help her. This is sad, and had I known Christ in the way I learned to a number of years later, I would have known what to do.
It's really not that hard and to look back, I can judge my behavior and see what I could have done better.
However, what is important is now! All we need to do is be there for our children by creating a warm family atmosphere.
Husbands and wives need to be in love, and if they don't feel like it, they can pretend until they do. It's neither hypocritical nor a lie. It's a matter of loving our spouses through Jesus Christ. We should let Him carry us while we work out our differences and feel that love again.
You must also let your children know how much you love them. Tell them you love them and God loves them. Say prayers with them before bedtime and then give them a big kiss good-night with the thought that God is watching over them.
Learning about God's safety and protection, will empower them at a young age.
Parents can cement that security by being patient and kind, never yelling or screaming, but patiently and firmly getting their point across.
Corporate punishment is up to you, but schools can cause you to lose your children if they receive any knowledge of your spanking them.
If you can find a way to discipline them in other ways, this may work better for you in the long run.
In conclusion, spend time with your husband to keep your love flowing and together spend time with your children.
When you find that difficult, take a deep breath and give thanks because you are not alone. Christ is always there to lean upon if you keep Him at the center of your life! This is how to have a wealthy family.
