DOES OUR FAMILY LOOK INSIDE OR OUT?

There is a family that works hard, sees that kids do their best in school, keeps the house, car and themselves neat and clean. They are a tightly knit family, doing things together and keeping out of trouble.

There is another family that looks a bit weird. They, their children, house, car and yard never look neat or really clean. The house is noisy, untidy and dusty. The phone and the internet are on all the time. Nobody seems to have time for meals or social events. Each seems too busy at something.

The main business of this family is somewhere else. They are out volunteering, cleaning some creek or road, writing letters to the editor and asking neighbors to help at the local youth drop-in center.

For the first family, home is the center of life. It is safe and clean and everybody is working to keep it that way. For the other family the focus is somewhere else - the community or the world.

The first sees the family as the nest where folks are safe and each knows where he/she belongs. The second, home is like a military base camp, from which members’ spring into action.

The second family understands that families depend on the community for their resources and support. In their view, it is vital that the family makes its best contribution to the community. They see the first family as isolated and bordering on selfishness.

It is easy to see how each could have problems. The first could get ingrown, self centered and isolated from the community. The second could be doing so much good those family members get lost in the shuffle and neglected.

Obviously, both are right and each can be very wrong. So the right balance comes down to vision - how does the family see itself. Are they taking time to consider where they are going or are they so busy they are aimless?

This means that those that take family life seriously have a strategic job before they get themselves lost in their busyness.

Is your family looking out or in? Let’s hear from you on this FAMILY CHALLENGE.