Each family has their own way of doing things – from the food they eat, the jokes they tell, and the values they hold. As such, every family is its own microculture. And as a culture it must be intentionally shaped.
Culture is our shared meaning – the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of life and relationships.
And for better or worse, our families have shaped how we view the world, though often in subtle ways we now take for granted. This is simply how things are done.
And new relationships outside of our family, particularly in marriage, are often marked with many difficulties as each still holds their own unique cultural perspectives.
While challenging to do life together with someone who has such subtle yet profoundly different approaches to life, this also provides an opportunity to forge a new culture.
Just as our families shaped us growing up, we now have that responsibility to our wife and kids – to build a culture in our home that blesses everyone who lives there.
In short, we’re the culture makers of our home – establishing the values, rituals, and foundational worldview for our family.
And while there are many other influences in society, the family still has a profound impact on who we become. Even when we seek to overcome certain shortcomings, our journey is still shaped by these past relationships of our family.
As such, we must not take the culture of our homes for granted. A culture is established one way or another – either actively or passively.
What sort of culture are we building? Does it allow for each member to thrive? And does it reflect the highest good we know we’re capable of?
Each family is a microculture. Actively build the culture in your home.
Photo by Sheri Hooley on Unsplash
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