Everyone and their mother, no less your mother may have their opinions and encouragements. They may not be encouragements
in reality but strong suggestions about what will make them most happy, i.e. keep the grandkids close. These stressors can take you to a new level of anxiety. This has no need in your life.
Recently we visited our eldest son who is living and working in Germany. As we pondered our past 25 years as parents we stood in Thanksgiving for God’s hand on everything, the good and bad decisions; our decisions. We give thanks because of God’s sovereign hand in it all. Our sons, all three, have confidence, versatility and acceptance all rooted in our moves and embracing of other cultures. They can pick up and assimilate to different areas, cultures and living, living life with joy. We are extremely thankful for the decisions we made as a family unit.
Recently we pondered the elements that helped us in making decisions for our family. The following is a guide to help you in making your family decisions.
The 5 Elements Of Making Family Decisions
1. Keep your family together.
Matthew 19:4-6 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Over the years, the worst decisions we made was when the outcome separated our family. Being purposeful in maintaining our family unit was imperative to having healthy relationships within. God has made us one to create the unity of our family.
2. Make the decision together.
Genesis 2:24 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
When you are making decisions together, you are making decisions as one. Standing in unity creates a bond of mutual respect and honoring of the decision you make.
3. Seek God for guidance.
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Family decisions are stressful and overwhelming at times. Seeking God gives you Godly wisdom to go forward in confidence.
4. Pray together and be thankful and all circumstances
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Coming together with your husband to pray about your decisions and pray for one another through making those decisions creates a foundation of God’s hand on your marriage and decisions.
5. Stand in confidence realizing not all decisions nor outcomes are perfect. 2Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Even though we may not always make the perfect decision, knowing that God’s grace covers you allows the guilt to be overcome with thanksgiving of Christ’s power in our lives.
After spending time with our oldest seeing him in his new element, living and working in Germany, we were blessed to see him embracing a different country than his birth as his own. Our decisions to keep our family together moving from one city to another, one country to another has created a man who can adapt to new places and cultures. God’s guidance was much needed and sought to be able to bless our decisions and our family. We continue to pray together for our marriage and our family. We know we didn’t make all the right decisions even while trying to seek God’s guidance, but we stand in confidence that God continues to guide and direct our paths.
