Love Like Family

“Be devoted to one anther in Love” Romans 12:10  Other translations read, “Love each other with family affection” (HCSB) and Love each other in a way that makes you feel close like brothers and sisters.” (Easy- to-Read Version) Our children had been at each other constantly, and I was at my wits' end. I couldn’t understand why they just couldn’t get along. Then people would tell me that it only gets worse. I didn’t see how that was possible.
Like most parents, I want my children to be close. I want them to love and respect one another. I don’t want them treating each other worse than they treat anyone else. I know that sisters and brothers often argue and disagree. I am the youngest of 5. However, I want them to learn now how important they are to one another. I want them to value each other. So I began teaching them Romans 12:9-21. These verses teach us how to get along with each other and how we are to behave in relationship to others. Verse 10, says “Be devoted to one another in love, honor one another above yourselves.” That simple verse could be the changing point of society if we would all adhere to it. One of our biggest problems in relationships and in the world is selfishness. Always thinking about what self needs and how to get it. Always letting little offenses cause anger and resentment instead of being quick to forgive, and often thinking the worst of each other with no ground to stand on. This often leads to a plethora of lies, hard feelings, and wounded hearts. I’ve seen families feud and not communicate because of misinformation and false accusations. I’ve known of families sadly torn apart over wills and inheritance because someone selfishly tried to manipulate other members to get more.
If we are devoted to one another in love, we would be more eager to care for others and less demanding that someone take care of us and give us what we want. If God thinks that “family affection” is so important and that the love between brothers and sisters is the example of how we should all love, shouldn’t families have the greatest love and affection to the members of their own family? Why then, do families fight and argue over petty things? Why do grown Christians not practice forgiveness toward family members, either by forgiving a wrong done to them or asking for forgiveness when they have wronged someone else? Why do members within their own family act selfishly and disrespectful toward each other?
We as parents have the responsibility to teach our children. This includes how families should act. Our children see our actions and hear our words. God placed our families together, whether we are blood related, adopted or married in. It’s time that families act the way God intended families to act. Let’s not expect everyone (but ourselves) to be perfect. Let’s stop being selfish and instead follow Philippians 2:4, “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) Our treatment of each other says more about what we really believe than pretty much anything else.

That is what I am trying to teach my children. It all boils down to the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” God chose to make Nathan Sophie’s big brother. He is the only brother she has. He also chose for Sophie to be a little sister to Nathan. She is the only sister he has. They should honor God’s wisdom and be the best brother and sister they can be. I’ve learned that we all need to be more devoted to each other, especially to members of our own families.