Have you ever noticed that in everyday life, people often take their family for granted? Many don’t really know how to show appreciation towards one another. For example, husband seldom says ‘Thank you’ when his wife helps him to prepare his socks and shoes. The wife doesn’t say ‘Have a good day’ when her husband goes to work. No goodnight kiss or goodbye kiss. Kids don’t say ‘good morning’ when they see their parents at the breakfast table. Don’t be surprised to find out that many married couples don’t even say ‘I love you’ anymore. Why?
Over the years, we tend to think that whatever our family’s doing for us is something that they SHOULD be doing. It’s my husband’s obligation to drive me to the grocery store no matter how busy he is; after all I’m buying things for the whole family, not just for myself. It’s my wife’s responsibility to make sure the house is clean, because she is the housewife, I don’t really need to help, I’m already tired working all day long. It’s my parents’ duty to give me a good and expensive education, because they were the ones who brought me into this world, I never asked to be born. These kinds of thought and countless others are the cause of lack of respect that can occur in any family nowadays, Christian or non Christian.
Birthdays are not celebrated. Anniversaries are forgotten. There is no love in the air. I often come across families in the restaurant that just eat their meal in silence. No meaningful conversation takes place. No smile or laughter. Everybody is busy in his/her own thought. Some teenagers can’t even wait to finish up their food so they can go ahead to hang out with their friends at the arcade or mall which they find more exciting than spending time with their parents. Why is this happening?
Firstly, the husband and wife must be able to give example to the children. Children will not understand how to love their parents if every day they see their parents quarrelling and fighting between themselves. Love must be established between husband and wife. Get rid of all suspicion; make effort to reconcile any differences between husband and wife. Forgive each other. Come to God and pray together as a couple. Then, the children will be able to see the changes. They will feel the difference that takes place at home. No more negative words spoken. They feel loved; therefore they will be able to love.
I thank God for my family. I know my family is not perfect, but each member has willingness to love and forgive. We have gone through a lot, good times and bad times; yet, we still stick together as one. In another opportunity, perhaps I will share to you about my family. Meanwhile, I pray that your family will also be changed and restored by God. No matter how broken, God can do miracles. Amen.
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
