The Right Foundation

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine…Your children like olive plants around your table.
– Psalm 128:3

Most people learned how to act in a family from their own family of origin, from the families of friends and others that they observed, or from the media. Certainly, the media provides the wrong example of what a family should be. If our concept of the family is limited to what we learned from our parents, we could be in deep trouble, or we could be set for life.

For example, godly parents usually teach their children godly principles. They make mistakes, but they’re committed to one another and to God.

On the other hand, when parents are abusive or neglectful, their sons and daughters often grow up to mirror their anger and frustration. Many adults who were abused as children wonder if they will do the same. However, the destructive behavior doesn’t have to be repeated. We can take control of our emotions and say no to sin.

When we’re set on living the way God wants us to live, we will have all we need to become men and women of godly character and faith. When we do this, there’s a good chance that our children will grow up to love God and will seek Him above all else. When He is first in our lives, everything else—including our family life—falls into place.