Forgotten Job? 4 Practical Inspirations for Your Calling as a Family

“It’s still good no matter what happens.” 

Whether a dinner or a family meeting or a “living room summit”, this hopeful thought can come to mind. Life as a family can have an idyllic view but there is a very earthy reality too. 

The beautiful picture is that the family gathers together. There is talking, sharing encouragement, fix a problem, or have some fun. 

But this is not every time. Sometimes it is rarely. And, to be fair, it does not always end up NOT that way either. I know we’ve had some wonderful moments where you could taste the vision of what being a family can be. 

But that is not an “always” or “everytime”-kind-of-thing.

It’s helpful to have a good, even if not always clear, sense of what being a family can be. 

The Calling as a Family

“Being family” calls for intentional effort. As parents, teens, or children, God has called you to be good stewards of those in your family. In fact, Scripture describes that one who does not “provide” for their family, especially their immediate family, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). 

WOW! That is some strong language about family! The Greek term pronoeo (translated “provide”) does not only refer to food or shelter  (*which is often how we think*) but it actually refers to the idea of thinking beforehand in terms of caring. Thus, it means food and shelter but also emotionally, relationally, helping in difficulties, and other needs of life.

Ideas to Live Out Your Calling as a Family

Casting a Family Vision

In our church and workplace, there is often a vision. A direction. A mission. What about home? Where are you headed as family? Where would you like to head? What does each member of the family see God pointing toward? Talk as a family and listen to what the kids suggest, no matter how young.   

• Where do we want to be at the end of the next 6 months or the end of a year? 
• What do we want our life to look like? (List characteristics.)
• What (or Who) is God calling us in the next 3 months?
• What do we hope to do in the next year?

If you aren’t prayerfully seeking out a vision for your family, your family will still become something — it just might not be what you (or God) is calling it to be.

Baggage Brought Home

What are you carrying from your work or daily life into your times with the family? Ironically, work is often the first part of a person’s day — leaving whatever relational and emotional energy that is left for the family. During stressful work periods, realize that this may leave you short-tempered, less patient, etc. 

• How can you balance this? 
• Can you leave some things behind and prayerfully put them in God’s hands?
• Do you have someone you can share the challenges so it doesn’t spill over to your family?

Connecting

We can make this one TOO big and then we don’t get to it. Try simple. Around the dinner table, whether it is daily or even a few times a week, practice having each person share one high and one low of the day.  This reminds your children (and you) that both of these are part of family life — and you are for each other whether in joy or difficulty. For us, this was something easier in the younger years but the investment (even sporadically at times) has opened up many conversations as they grow, even if not always or easily. 

• What was your high point of the day? 
• What was your low? 

It can be difficult to get these started but once you do it does have its easy moments (at least every once in a while).

Perseverance

It has been shown in family studies (and in any group) bringing change does not come easily. Most of us know that but few of us recognize it. It’s why bad habits or poor conflict resolution skills in relationships do not change overnight. Families seek to maintain the “usual” or norm that has developed and change does not come easy or without stress — but change can come. Thus we need to ask for help and prayer from our friends, pastors and even get professional help in order to bring about change. But DON’T GIVE UP!

• Who is someone you are encouraged by? 
• Is there a voice or resource (author, speaker, friend or mentor, etc.) that helps renew you when change is hard for the family?

You’ve been given one another for a reason. And its not forever. 

Don’t be discouraged when your love and investment does not go well. Don’t be too excited when it does go well (although be thankful for it!). And don’t be surprised when the challenges come around later.

Being good stewards of our families is not an option — it is a part of your calling in following Christ. 

Keep praying. Keep investing. Keep loving.

Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash