Nothing enhances one’s health and well-being more than the presence of a caring family and nothing makes us richer! Nothing threatens a person’s well-being more than the absence of a caring family and nothing makes us poorer!

Our sense of “family” grows out of investing time and energy in building caring relationships with others, whether we are “blood-kin” or not. This will pay richer and more satisfying dividends than we can earn in any other pursuit.

In attempting to give our children more material possessions, we often deprive them of the greatest treasure of all – getting to know their family. It is difficult to love those we do not know. Strong, healthy families are the product of much hard work over an extended period of time.

Allow me to share some practical steps to developing healthy families.

Plan regular times together.

Parents, the best thing we can give our children is the example of a healthy you – healthy in every way: spiritually, physically, and psychologically. God has given us a biblical family priority: God first, spouse second, children third, and then our jobs and other community or extended family obligations. Our families will be no stronger than our relationships with God and each other. Consider how we spend our 168 hours each week and determine to spend more of them with those we claim to love.

Put an end to credit buying and begin paying our way out of debt.

We should make a list of our creditors and beside each, list the amount we owe them. In the next column, put the monthly payment amounts. In the final column, write the pay-off dates.

Find the one which will pay off first and work to get it paid as quickly as possible. Credit will remain important for our home and cars, but the other obligations need to get quickly to the point that we can pay cash for them.

Celebrate the retiring of each debt by spending the savings on something fun for the family. We will be reducing the tension level in our homes as debts go down.

Build memories.

In our stressed economical times, most parents have to work, but if possible, have a trustworthy family member care for all children from birth to age three (3). No one will care for our children like someone who is connected to more areas of the child’s life than just day care.

Provide loving discipline.

I find that most parents do not realize that there must be positive discipline before the negative discipline will be effective. Provide plenty of physical affection through smiles and hugs. If we must be employed outside the home, we must work to verbalize our love to them daily. When a child truly knows they are specially loved, they will attempt to please, which will result in less negative discipline. Consider it our responsibility – and their right – to be sure than on one ever goes to sleep in your home without knowing they are personally and individually loved. Frequent manifestations of love equip the child with the security and experience necessary to benefit from healthy discipline.

Parents must know the difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment teaches the child what not to do; it seeks to eliminate undesirable behaviors. It should be applied in measured amounts consistent with the situation and administered by a parent who is in complete control of himself as well as the atmosphere. Punishment is visited upon the child from the outside in.

Discipline is teaching the child what to do – the kinds of behaviors and attitudes you consider appropriate. Discipline creates controls which eventually operate from within the child to limit undesirable behaviors and reinforce desirable ones.

Allow the Lord to help you build your riches.

For children, parents are the Christ they see most plainly. We must ensure that our actions are in line with the values we are hoping they are receiving. Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Days, Independence Day, the first and last day of the school year, Thanksgiving and Christmas are times to build traditions into their memories. Teach them by example to give thanks at meal-time and let them see us sing, pray, and attend church together.

Attempt to picture our relationship with each child as a triangle with the Lord. As each of us grow toward Him, we will automatically draw closer to each other.

Who needs a family? We all do! Our families are our fortunes that must be developed. Whether it is a natural family, a social family, a church family, or a community, we all need each other in order to have the wealth that God has meant for us to possess!