THE GIFT OF FAMILY (6); 7 CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAMILY

“I'll never stop dreaming that one day we can be a real family, together, all of us laughing and talking, loving and understanding, not looking at the past but only to the future.” - LaToya Jackson

Families are who you love. Families are the foundation of society. It's where we come into the world, nurtured and given the tools to go out into the world, capable and healthy. When families break down and fail to provide the healthy nurturing we need, the effects impact not only our own lives, but also our communities. In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children. Parents and children make up a family; children are considered the blessing/the gift God give to every family and it is through reproduction that a whole society is made.

It was Martin Travin that described his family, "The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together, only a bond of Love could have withstood all this."

Characteristics of a family

Appreciation:

Family members give one another compliments and sincere demonstrations of approval. They try to make the others feel appreciated and good about themselves.

Ability to Deal with Crises in a Positive Manner:

They're willing to take a bad situation, see something positive in it and focus on that together.

Time Together:

In all areas of their lives--meals, work, and recreation, they structure their schedules to spend time together.

High Degree of Commitment:

Families promote each person's happiness and welfare, invest time and energy in each other and make family their number one priority.

Good Communication Patterns:

Families spend time talking with each other. They also listen well, which shows respect.

High Degree of Religious Orientation:

Not all belong to an organized church, but they consider themselves highly religious.

Misunderstanding:

They quarrel, fight and use abusive words against each other but the good news is, it doesn't last; families will always settle their issues within themselves within a short time.

The family is unarguably the greatest gift a society can ever have, it is up to us to utilize every bit of it effectively.