Family

"No one who prefers father or mother to me is worthy of me. No one who prefers son or daughter to me is worthy of me.(Matthew 10:37)

Most of the joys and sorrows we experience in this life come from the family. To appropriate the joys and minimize the sorrows, we must learn God's promises on the family. As we understand God's plan for family life, we are led to believe in God's wonderful provisions for the family. Obedience to God's word on family life is the key to enjoyoying the generous provisions He has made for us. Most of us have experienced problems in family relationships. Some of us have come close to despair. I was at this point, when I cried out to God and and asked for help. God heard my cry of distress and answered my prayer. He led me to his word on the first principles of right relationship: There can be no peace between poeple unless there is peace between each person and God. Then He taught me forgiveness, acceptance and patience. The healing process started.

Pope John Paul II in his The Gospel of Life says this about the family:
"The family is truly the sanctuary of life: the place in which life - the gift of God - can be properly welcomed and protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. Consequently the role of a family in building a culture of life is decisive and irreplaceable.....The family celebrates the gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual and family prayer. The family prays in order to glorify and give thanks to God for the gift of life, and implores his light and strength in order to face times of difficulty and suffering without losing hope. But the celebration which gives meaning to every form of prayer and worship is found in the family's actual daily life together, if it is a life of love and self-giving."

Prayer fof a balanced family life
Grant our family Lord, the gift of balance,
the grace of due proportion.
May we pray when it is time to pray,
Work when it is time to work,
Laugh when it is time to laugh.
May our lives be whole,
and wholly given to you.