Celebrating Families

Why is the family important? Well, the family provides individuals with emotional, physical, emotional well being and a sense of belonging that cannot be found anywhere. 

Family provides an environment where children grow up finding security, identity, and emotional stability. When parents create time to be involved in their children’s lives, they are likely to grow up being wholesome individuals when they feel valued.

Simple acts like having family meals together create strong ties among family members. This is because children get to learn what it means to have a healthy diet and they are likely to adopt this lifestyle in the future.

Having daily family devotions helps a family to deepen their spiritual lives. Children are likely to grasp the importance of reading and obeying the Lord because they understand the teachings and instructions in the Bible. 

Parents should be deliberate about loving their children and not showing favouritism as this could affect their self-esteem. When a child does something wrong, he/she should be corrected in love.

Families are important to society because they contribute to a secure economy where there is less crime, greed, individuals being trust worth, reliable and kind to others. Social injustice can also be avoided when individuals are raised to value other people for who they are. 

The Bible contains several verses that emphasize the importance of family and unity. Be encouraged as you ponder on the verses below;

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12(ESV)

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3(ESV)

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Colossians 3:20(ESV)

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. Colossians 3:13(GNT)

Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them angry. Instead, raise them with Christian discipline and instruction. Ephesians 6:4(GNT)

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children. Psalm 107:17(ESV)

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:33(ESV)

Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you. Proverbs 6:20(GNT)

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.1 Corinthians 13:13(ESV)

How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1(GNT)

Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. 1 Corinthians 12:12(ESV)

#InternationalDayofFamilies

By:Joy Odhiambo