Saving Souls

Lindsay: One thing we’ve learned is that there are no perfect families!  But I believe that with God’s help, we all can strengthen our families, no matter what situation we’re in.

Richard: It seems that families today are always so busy.  In many cases, people have gone from being families to simply being “households.”  But to have a strong family, I believe you have to spend time together.

Have Fun as a Family

RR:  Some of the best times we have as a family are at dinnertime.  It’s not so much the food as it is the fellowship, sitting around the table and sharing with one another.

LR: I know how hard it can be for families to do that each day, but I think it’s important to set priorities and make choices in your life.  Family meals have been a priority with us.  It gives all of us a time to talk and laugh together.

RR: Another one of our family rituals—especially when our girls were younger—has been  that before bedtime, everyone piles on our bed so we all can talk.  It is time away from the noise and confusion of life, where we just have time together as a family.

It’s important to be someone your children can talk to.  Don’t act embarrassed when they ask hard questions.  No subject or problem should be off limits between parents and children—talk with them about it, pray with them, and show them from the Scriptures what God says about it.

Provide Loving Discipline

LR: I believe children want boundaries.  When parents give their children structure in their lives, it can promote a nurturing and loving atmosphere to help guide them into making right choices.  To have peace in your family, I believe you need loving discipline and guidance.

RR: I’ve found that when we discipline our kids with love, there’s often a wonderful moment later when they want to hug us.  They know that even though we’ve disciplined them, we love them.  It takes both love and discipline to raise a child.

LR: Statistics show that one of the main reasons kids join a gang is to be part of a “family” unit.  They are seeking the structure and guidance that comes from being part of a family.

I believe children want their parents’ attention so they have some form of accountability.  And if we, as parents, don’t want our children to cry out for attention in destructive ways, we should be the ones to give them the attention they desire.