Welcome back to 31 Days to Less Stress! Again this Saturday, we will be talking about stress and our relationships, particularly with family.
When our stress levels are out of control, family suffers the most. They experience the direct impact of how well or poorly we manage our stress.
When you created your list of priorities, family was likely near the top. We want to love our families well and to serve them well. How do we do that in today’s crazy world with so much going on?
Pray.
I encourage you to spend time praying for each member of your family during your daily prayer time. When I do this, I am always so much more motivated to love and serve them well. Remind yourself that God loves them and created them for His purpose and you are blessed to be part of their lives.
Time.
Spend time with your family. Unscheduled time that allows you to experience life together without rushing from one activity to the next. Make family meals a priority so that you can have conversation and learn about one another. Read books together. The kiddos and I have started reading a chapter of a book together every night after our bible story. It has created great conversations. Find a way to spend quality time together without the stress of over-activity.
Fun.
Have fun with your family. Go to the park. Play a board game. Have a movie night. Many studies show laughter can reduce stress. Simply having fun can be such a benefit for your family and for you, while creating lasting memories.
Serve.
Make time to serve others as a family. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Doing so as a family is a great way to follow this teaching. Whether it is serving meals at a homeless shelter or shopping for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, get everyone involved. There is nothing more beautiful than teaching your children to love and serve others as God has loved them.
Joy.
Enjoy your family. Overlook their faults. Forgive quickly. Love them deeply. Encourage them. Smile when you see them. Thank God for the opportunity to share life with them. When you are overwhelmed by everything going on around you, take a moment to stop and thank God for the people He has placed in your life who know you better and love you more than anyone else.
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