What is the key to great families in a world of dysfunction and brokenness in family today? The key is Honor. So many families lack a sense of honor among themselves – it’s a constant battle within what should be a hallowed and safe place of refuge and recreation, an oasis of love and humility shown to each other. God’s way is that we build H.O.N.O.R. Families, families built around the concept of honor - where love and respect rule in the family. Let’s see what God says about building H.O.N.O.R. Families!
H.O.N.O.R. Families are families that live in the concept of honesty. Trust is a precious commodity in any relationship and one that can easily be lost by the erosion of hypocrisy. H.O.N.O.R. families choose to be truthful with each other on two levels. First, H.O.N.O.R. Families refuse to lie to each other. Second, H.O.N.O.R. Families are honest with each other in their hearts, they value authentic relationship over peacekeeping. H.O.N.O.R. families choose to live in trusting environments of truth and loving confrontation that leads to deep relationship!
H.O.N.O.R. Families believe in each family taking Ownership of the home and the family relationships. Ownership is the place where each family member knows what is his/hers, takes responsibility for it, and shares its responsibility with pride. However, H.O.N.O.R. Families do not stop simply at the physical owning of the home. Each person in the home takes the responsibility and the privilege of owning their existence and individual growth as a person within the home. And, each accepts the ownership that the others bring into the partnership of a home.
H.O.N.O.R. Families make the home a pleasant place to live and grow on a daily basis. They are greenhouses of love, kindness, encouragement, correction, and hope - with each member of the family seeing it as their responsibility to Nurture the growth of the other members of the family. They also must view each other as a Giant Blackboard, upon which the words that are spoken will remain throughout the lives of the rest of the members of their H.O.N.O.R. Family. They must be determined to scribble inspiration and blessing on the hearts of their children, their spouse, and their parents through what they say and the time they give to each other. They learn to celebrate each other in the family.
H.O.N.O.R. Families believe in each family taking Ownership of the home and the family relationships. Ownership is the place where each family member knows what is his/hers, takes responsibility for it, and shares its responsibility with pride. However, H.O.N.O.R. Families do not stop simply at the physical owning of the home. Each person in the home takes the responsibility and the privilege of owning their existence and individual growth as a person within the home. And, each accepts the ownership that the others bring into the partnership of a home.
Probably the number one factor leading the dysfunction of homes and families today is the lack of respect shown to each other in the relationships within the home. We live by respect in our jobs, schools, churches, and all other relationships, but when the door to the home closes, we show each other very little respect and feel that we have the right to cuss at, yell at, hit, and insult one another. Maybe it’s “familiarity breeds contempt,” or it may be that we come to love each other in an unconditional way and we march right over each others’ boundaries and allow others to trample our own personal boundaries. H.O.N.O.R. Families do not allow this to happen. They see Respect as paramount in homes.
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