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Description of a Family
by Norman and Ann Bales
All About Families

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• A family is a unit of people with God at the center of their lives. They respond to one another as a reflection of God's love.

• A family is a communications center where both serious and frivolous messages are freely transmitted. These messages include irritations, hurts, offenses, and even criticisms. Those transmitting the messages send them with tender regard for the feelings of others. Those receiving them do so without feeling threatened or put down by the negative things they are hearing. The family is also a place where positive communication takes place. Appreciation is openly expressed. Compliments are stated aloud and are not suppressed.

• A family is a unit that is basically built on the relationship of two people--husband and wife. When the relationship is right with these people, they can then concentrate on mutually sharing their love with the children.

• A family is a group of people who have time and who take the time to share and listen. Dad and Mother listen to the little boy who is filled with exuberance over a new toy or learning to tie his shoes. It is a place where the family shares joy and victory, but it also shares disappointment and sorrow. It shares good times, and fun things. It also shares grief and heartaches.

• A family is a work crew. Everyone participates according to his or her ability. The task may be taking out the garbage or painting the shutters, but no one grumbles and complains, "Why do I- have to do this." Each one goes about his or her task with the joy of recognizing that whether one is dusting the furniture or building a shelf, that person is making the house a more suitable place to put a home in.

• A family is a body of people who realize that personal happiness depends on gratitude. It is a place where thankfulness to God for things small and great are often expressed. It is a place where thankfulness to each other does not go unexpressed.

• A family is a bargaining unit. It develops the skill of negotiating. To be sure the home has a head, but the head is not so insecure that he cannot listen to and profit from the suggestions of each family member from the smallest to the largest.

• Finally, a family is a group of people who strive for total commitment to God, total commitment to each other, total honesty with each other, total service to each other, and total consideration for each other's feelings, desires, needs, and hopes. The willingness to strive for and work for these things in the family is called love.

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