The family is the cornerstone of society. But families can only truly flourish when they’re also surrounded by their trusted village. To be sure, there’s much wisdom in cultivating family life beyond our immediate four walls. All the same, there’s a place to prioritize and protect those closest to us as well.
On the one hand, many families essentially live as an island unto themselves – having only themselves to depend on. And while they might survive, it comes with a high cost. Parents are spread thin and lonely, while children are often neglected – left on their own or otherwise turned over to various media sources and public institutions for basic life instruction and training.
It’s been said it takes a village to raise a child. But this is true for the family as well. We need to surround our family with generations of grandparents, aunt and uncles, cousins, and the like, whether by blood or by choice. However loving and supportive our immediate family might be, we must still build our village of extended family members to experience the fullness of life God offers through each other.
At the same time, this is not to neglect our duty to those within our immediate family. We have the responsibility to provide them with what they need, and to take the lead in their development. This means we must protect them from negative outside influences and intentionally guide them towards God’s best. It’s not okay to defer our sacred duty over to the church, government, or the popular trends of society. We don’t have to do everything on our own, but don’t get to abdicate our kingdom to others either.
In the end, take care of your family by building your extended village and maintaining your authority to protect your home. We need the support of trusted others without neglecting our sacred duty to those closest to us.
Photo by Craig Adderley on Pexels
