You may have heard the saying “plan the work and work the plan”. It is a great reminder that, in order to experience success, it helps to have a vision and a plan for what you hope to accomplish, to remian focused and committed to your plan, and to be purposeful and intentional in working toward accomplishing the plan.
This adage is most commonly applied in business, but I believe we shoud all consider applying it within our families. Our families need a vision, a mssion, and a plan. A good place to start is to establish your family values, a set of guiding principles that help steer eveyone as they makes decsions about what you do, what you say, who you select as friends, and how you spend your money and time. Below are some examples of family values that I have collected from freinds that will give you some ideas and help get you jump started. You can develop your own (as a family); make it fun, let eveyone participate and contribute, and make sure you have consensus before finalizing. Post them on the refrigerator, on the family bulletin board, and on bathroom mirrors so they are consistently top-of-mind with everyone, and use them when making decisions, and to mentor, coach and discipline your kids. Good luck and remember to walk in love!
Family Values:
- We will love honor and obey God in all that we think, speak, and do
- We will, in humility, love, respect, and serve each other and those around us
- We first listen, then think, then speak
- We try our best in everything we do
- We look for the good in every situation and maintain an attitude of thankfulness
- We will forgive and make every effort to live at peace with everyone
- We take every opportunity to share God’s love and the hope we have in Jesus
- We make memories together
- We keep our family time as a high priority
- We nurture a generous heart by living simply and sharing with those in need
- We invest ourselves in building God’e kingdom
