What it Means to be a Part of a Family
Being part of a family is more than just having a relationship with the people that you call your family, being part of a family means that you need to take part in what the family does, you need to trust your family, and you need to love your family. When you are a part of your family then you are a part of what they do, and if you don't take part in what your family does, then are you really a part of the family?
The Things That Happen in a Family
Many things happen in a family; from chores to laughing at old memories. Being a part of your family means that you have to take part in the activities. You should do your daily chores, and even more chores if you want to make your parents happy. You should talk to your family and to your siblings. These are some things that happen in day to day life in families, and what you should expect with them.
Chores/Work
Household work is a constant in families of any size. Chores include but are not limited to, doing the dishwasher, laundry, cleaning your room, taking out the trash, and mowing the lawn. In my survey 59% of students surveyed said that they do 25% or less of household chores. That could mean that they just don't do much or that other family members do the chores, but most of the students have less than four people in their house to do the chores.
Chores are important to household life. They provide a clean living space, they help teach you basic skills, and chores help keep you busy. Doing chores isn't bad, sure they might be boring and hard but usually the reward is greater than the work that you put in. Having a clean room does wonders for sleep, and you get a great sense of accomplishment when you do a large chore that no one tells you to do.
Chores are important to household life. They provide a clean living space, they help teach you basic skills, and chores help keep you busy. Doing chores isn't bad, sure they might be boring and hard but usually the reward is greater than the work that you put in. Having a clean room does wonders for sleep, and you get a great sense of accomplishment when you do a large chore that no one tells you to do.
Conflict
Conflict is another important part of family life. Conflict is essential to your family getting along. Now, I know that you must be thinking that I have this wrong, but I can assure you that it is much different from what you think.
Although getting mad at and fighting with your younger sibling is frowned upon, it can bring about change and improved closeness with your family. Fighting with your siblings or your parents brings up emotions and thoughts that might not have been on your mind in the moment. Conflict releases your true feelings and it allows for change to happen. Usually behind meltdowns and large fights there is something that has been bugging you that you might not have noticed. You can use these to sort out problems that you might not have thought that would be a big deal. Fighting allows for healing, but too much fighting can be bad. If you have too much conflict in your family you could be breaking those connections and bonds that you are working so hard to build up. Fighting in a family is like salt on your food; too little conflict and it doesn't feel or taste right, too much and it ruins the family and takes away from the food, but just right and it allows for family growth and the best tasting food.
Although getting mad at and fighting with your younger sibling is frowned upon, it can bring about change and improved closeness with your family. Fighting with your siblings or your parents brings up emotions and thoughts that might not have been on your mind in the moment. Conflict releases your true feelings and it allows for change to happen. Usually behind meltdowns and large fights there is something that has been bugging you that you might not have noticed. You can use these to sort out problems that you might not have thought that would be a big deal. Fighting allows for healing, but too much fighting can be bad. If you have too much conflict in your family you could be breaking those connections and bonds that you are working so hard to build up. Fighting in a family is like salt on your food; too little conflict and it doesn't feel or taste right, too much and it ruins the family and takes away from the food, but just right and it allows for family growth and the best tasting food.
Fun/Leisure
Having fun and relaxing with your family is just as important as working together. Doing fun activities with your family helps you and your family to build better bonds, to have fun, and to de-stress. In my survey, just about 18% of students don't want to spend time with their family on the average day. And just about that same amount don't make an effort to spend time with their family.
To have good connections you need to have fun with your family and do fun things with the whole family. According to my survey, students said that they played sports with their family for fun. Playing games, going on vacations, and just having conversations were also ways that they connected with their families. To keep a good connection with your family you should do something fun with the whole family at least once a week. Go on a hike, play a video game together, or just sit down and have a long conversation with them. Now, being with your family and spending time with them are two different things. To have this work, you need to be actively engaged with what you are doing with your family. You can't be scrolling through social media or listening to music when you're supposed to be connecting with your family. Put the personal devices and projects away and enjoy time with your family.
To have good connections you need to have fun with your family and do fun things with the whole family. According to my survey, students said that they played sports with their family for fun. Playing games, going on vacations, and just having conversations were also ways that they connected with their families. To keep a good connection with your family you should do something fun with the whole family at least once a week. Go on a hike, play a video game together, or just sit down and have a long conversation with them. Now, being with your family and spending time with them are two different things. To have this work, you need to be actively engaged with what you are doing with your family. You can't be scrolling through social media or listening to music when you're supposed to be connecting with your family. Put the personal devices and projects away and enjoy time with your family.
Being a Part of God's Family
We are all a part of God's family whether we like it or not. We are God's sons and daughters. When we are in a family, we should obey the father of the family. This is no different from God the Father. We should obey what he says and does. We should go to church every week and we should believe that grace is gained through faith by the Holy Spirit.
Eph. 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph. 3:14-19
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.