Why do some families or friends grow closer together the more they spend time with one another, and other families or friends grow to hate and resent each other and eventually fall apart with time?
Your Circle of Friends
Imagine you standing in the middle and your circle of friends or family holding a circle around you. While you are walking around chasing your dream, growing and learning, there is no problem as long as your circle moves with you, you grow together. The moment that your circle stopped moving with you, it has instead become your prison. You now have a decision to make; Stay stagnant with your circle or break free and grow apart. People will either grow together or eventually grow apart.
The Home is the Key
For any real change to take root, it must first begin in the home. Each member of the family has a crucial role to play. The parents provide nurture and guidance, the grandparents provide wisdom, and the children provide energy, and each of them are all equally vital. When we recognize and value each other’s role and contributions, we can build a stronger family.
Consequences of Growing Apart
When family members are not intentional on growing together, they will eventually grow apart. This can lead to misunderstandings, loneliness, and a breakdown of communication. When hurt feelings are not mended promptly and properly, it can cause division in the home. Each member must respect the other’s roles, and each role must play their part. When we that we are erring human beings, and are willing to take efforts to start growing together, we can create a foundation of love, trust, and unity.
Growing Together
Growing together means learning from each other, supporting one another’s dreams, and facing life’s challenges as a team. It’s about creating a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. Grandparents will develop a mindset saying, “With all my wisdom, maybe I can still learn something from these youngsters”, and the children saying, “Maybe my parents and grandparents know something I do not”.
Growing Together is the idea of embarking on a journey together, maybe a road you’ve travelled many times. But it’s also embarkingf with a mindset that maybe you might find a new cave or rock that you haven’t seen before. It’s being open to the idea that maybe there’s also another route that we can take. We can grow together when “my way” is not as important as “let’s enjoy this journey together!”.
This month, let’s focus on ways we can grow together as families. Whether it’s through shared activities, open conversations, or simply spending quality time together. At the end of the month, we will come back and share with one another what we have learned from our experiences. Once we learn to grow as a family, then we can thrive as a church family. As it says in 1 Corinthians 12:12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.” Our families are like this body, with each member being an essential part. Let’s strive to grow together in love and unity.
