Being One

 

Our ultimate goal as a family is to return back to Heaven and live with our Heavenly Father as a family. Sometimes it seems that we forget that the relationships that are developed here are the ones that we will be taking with us after this life. It astounds me to see families that have this privilege to be sealed for eternity be so disconnected. We are looking forward to the eternal blessings but are we doing all we can now to develop eternal relationships?

 

Family Council

 

One of the best ways of developing better family relationships is to work on having family counsel. When we started family council it was because as a mom, I was overwhelmed. We had so many activities in so many places I couldn’t keep up. We also needed to talk about some of the problems within our family. Our family council has been a blessing to our family. We take time every Sunday night to read scriptures as a family and then have family council. Everyone is allowed a voice, they can let their concerned be known as well as their opinions on any matter. We try and make it a safe place for all in the family.

Elder Ballard said we should be more concerned with not with our own point of view but we should find ways to listen to the point of view of others. I think is good advice for family counsels as well. When we seek to listen for what others are truly saying we will be able to better understand how we can meet our families needs. In one counsel a daughter brought up an issue she was having with one of her siblings teasing. After listening to her and pondering what could be done. We made some decisions as a family which helped us grow closer as a family and meet the needs of my daughter.

 

Unity and Love

Studying President Eyring’s talk, “That We May Be One” I found myself really paying attention to the scriptures that he used. In Doctrine and Covenants 38:27, Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.  I shared this with my family for family home evening. We talked about ways we could become one. My younger children were quiet, and we talked about using kinder words and actions. The last few days there has been an improvement. I am hopeful that as we continue to rely on each other at family home evening, family counsel, and even family scripture study they will have their hearts knit together in unity and love.