Patterns in Your Family
Today, I took advantage of the sunny, 60-degrees weather in Rexburg, Idaho and did my homework in the BEAUTIFUL gardens. And of course, unable to focus, I started to notice patterns in the nature around me. Flower blossoms follow the sun across the sky. Trees beginning to change from their vibrant green to rich oranges and reds once again. Individual leaves are decorated with veins in perfect array, one after the other. The sounds of wind in the trees and the rushing waterfall reminded me of being in the mountains where those sounds are so familiar, so constant. Sunlight, soil, water and even the air work together to maintain homeostasis for every plant. Not only is there beauty in nature's patterns, but familiarity and a sense of home to many of us.
Consistency makes us feel comfortable, we often follow the trends of our parents because it is familiar to us.
Families also fall into all kinds of patterns. The family works as a system in an of itself, and there are several "sub-systems" within it. Each part works together to try and maintain homeostasis. You've probably noticed this in your own family! Parents usually play the executive role, some definitely more strict than others, but necessary leadership in the family. Maybe the oldest child will take on this role when one or both parents are out of the picture. Among siblings, there is usually at least one who tries to keep peace in the home and steer others away from contentious situations. Some patterns are as simple as who sits where at the dinner table or whether or not family members knock before entering each others rooms. Some families, like my own, say, "I love you" all the time while others show their love in different ways.
My mother embraced this idea of creating patterns and fortifying habits in her life. She reminded us that we are "creatures of habit". And thus began a new system in our family. Each week, along with studying and memorizing a verse of scripture, we focused on creating one good habit in our lives. For example; one week we focused on Mosiah 2:41 from the Book of Mormon, ". . . I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God . . ." Along with it, our "pattern" of the week was choosing to be happy by keeping Gods commandments such as daily scripture study, taking care of our bodies, etc. So you see,
Earlier, I mentioned the "sub-systems" in families. Each family member can be a part of several subsystems. And its based on the ways they treat each other. We all know that strengthening relationships within a family takes diligence, and daily efforts. It takes creating habits of showing love to, listening to, and serving one another.
Whether your family relationships are stronger than they've ever been, OR if they're in dire need of strengthening, I have a challenge for you :
Pick a family member to focus on. Over the course thirty days, create habits of serving them. Choose a new habit each day (i.e. calling/texting to check up on them, asking to help out, paying them a compliment, praying for them, etc.) simple things. But here's the challenging part, these are meant to be habits, so each day you create a new habit, keep it. Continue doing it at least twice a week during the challenge and soon it will be a pattern! By the end, you will be doing thirty small things every week and hopefully it will continue it beyond the thirty days:)
There are patterns in nature.
We tend to follow patterns of our parents.
My mother embraced this idea of creating patterns and fortifying habits in her life. She reminded us that we are "creatures of habit". And thus began a new system in our family. Each week, along with studying and memorizing a verse of scripture, we focused on creating one good habit in our lives. For example; one week we focused on Mosiah 2:41 from the Book of Mormon, ". . . I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God . . ." Along with it, our "pattern" of the week was choosing to be happy by keeping Gods commandments such as daily scripture study, taking care of our bodies, etc. So you see,
We create patterns of how we act.
We create patterns of how we treat each other.
Pick a family member to focus on. Over the course thirty days, create habits of serving them. Choose a new habit each day (i.e. calling/texting to check up on them, asking to help out, paying them a compliment, praying for them, etc.) simple things. But here's the challenging part, these are meant to be habits, so each day you create a new habit, keep it. Continue doing it at least twice a week during the challenge and soon it will be a pattern! By the end, you will be doing thirty small things every week and hopefully it will continue it beyond the thirty days:)
We can strengthen relationships through patterns.
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