The Empowered Family: Discovering Strength Through Unity and GraceSample

Being an Empowered Family is great, but even good things can cause problems if we're not careful. Today, we'll look at some tricky spots Empowered Families might face and how to handle them wisely.

Encouragement → Pressure

Your family is good at cheering each other on. This is awesome and helps everyone grow. But sometimes, we might push too hard without meaning to. For example, you might really want your kid to do well in sports, so you encourage them a lot. But if you're not careful, they might feel like they must always win to make you happy.

The Bible says, "But encourage one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13a). This means we should support each other, but gently. It's like watering a plant - too little water and it won't grow, but too much water can drown it.

Ask family members how they feel about their goals to keep things healthy. Are they excited or stressed? Remember, empowerment is about helping others find their own strength, not pushing them too hard. It's okay to say, "I'm proud of you for trying," instead of always focusing on winning or being the best.

Teachability → Conformity

Your family loves to learn and grow. This is fantastic! But be careful not to expect everyone to be the same. Maybe you've found a great way to study or a hobby you love, and you want everyone in the family to do it the same way. However, what works for one person might not work for another.

The Bible tells us, "Train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). This means we should teach each person in a way that fits them. Different plants need different amounts of sunlight—what helps one grow might be too much for another.

To do this well, celebrate the different things family members like and how they learn. It's okay for everyone to have their own interests! Maybe one kid loves reading, while another learns better by doing. Encourage both approaches. This way, everyone can grow in their own unique way while still learning together as a family.

Practice → Perfectionism

Your family believes in hands-on learning and practice, which is great for building skills. But watch out—sometimes, we might focus too much on perfection. You might practice a lot to get better at something, which is good. But if you never feel satisfied with your progress, that's not healthy.

God reminds us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9a). This means it's okay not to be perfect. In fact, our weaknesses can be places where God's strength shines through.

To keep a healthy balance, celebrate effort and progress, not just perfect results. Treat mistakes as chances to learn, not as failures. If someone in your family is trying to learn a new skill, praise them for their hard work, not just when they get it right. Remember, even experts were beginners once!

Autonomy → Division

Your family supports everyone growing independently. This is good, but be careful not to let it split the family apart. For instance, you might encourage everyone to pursue their own hobbies or interests, which is great. But if everyone is always off doing their own thing, you might lose that sense of being a family team.

The Bible says, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1). This reminds us that being close as a family is important too. It's like a sports team - each player has their role, but they still need to work together to win.

To keep things balanced:

1. Mix individual activities with family time.
2. Show that it's good to be independent, but also good to rely on each other.
3. Maybe have a family game night where everyone shares a bit about what they've been learning or doing.

This way, you support individual growth while staying connected as a family.