CAN FAMILIES MAKE DECISIONS?

Mostly, families are terrible at making decisions. Some try the big boss approach. Some use sweetness to control. Some make big discussions that go no where. Others make decisions that split the family into camps.

Why are decisions so tough? The main reason is that there are too many different ideas how decisions should get made, such as:

• The leader decides.
• Everything must have a full consensus vote.
• Each person knows what is best for him/herself.
• We do things the way our parents always did.

These views forget one big thing - the family is one - a living body. In that body are individual members with individual gifts and needs. To be a family requires honouring both the family unit and each member.

How do we do that and still get daily decisions on time and in time?

The answer is fairly simple. The family discusses the question, listens to the view of each, and then finds a way that works for all.

What is the payoff from this approach?

• The whole family has decided together.
• All were there and had their say.
• All know how and why the decision was made.
• Therefore, all have committed themselves to doing it.
• It saves time spent in misunderstandings and disagreements.

Why is this not happening in most families?

• Our parents haven’t the experience.
• Our schools, churches and clubs don’t get it.
• Our businesses and governments promote individual decisions.
• We are all afraid to really trust our family.

It is going to take time before we realize that we are one first. We become great persons out of the oneness of the family. As Bill Bryson says, after his massive study of all world sciences, “We are One”.

Our families have many challenges they must meet over the course of their lives, and making decisions as a family has to be one of the greatest. How does your family meet this FAMILY CHALLENGE?