Families Can Be Together Forever


Finals are done, classes finished and the semester has now drawn to a close. When I started this blog I must confess that I wasn’t exactly thrilled to do it. I think I’m an awkward individual and wondered what I could possibly add to the subject of families that everyone hasn’t already heard or read before. I’m no expert yet, but I believe that we learn best when we teach others and share our personal experiences and apply what it is that we have learned.

Some observations I’ve made in my short time in the Marriage and Family major is that no family is 100% perfect and has complete success based on worldly standards.  When I think of the ideal “nuclear family” I think of a family consisting of a mom, dad and at least 1 or more children. This family on the outside appears to have no struggles or challenges. Each family member is intelligent, hardworking, beautiful, talented, has a good career, makes good money and has an active social life. However, this perfect, successful family DOES NOT exist. This family does not exist because we are measuring it on external values and indicators. Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom understands that you cant force your children to do what you want but must let them decide for themselves. He understands that success isn’t gained by your children having the perfect career or making tons of money. True success comes from being able to work together and to lift one another up from one’s burdens.

No family is perfect. In my own family we argue and we fight, yet we are perfect at forgiving one another and saying that we love one another. As children when we’d fight our parents used to make us hold hands and sing Families can be together forever. We’d be angry doing it, but it taught us that even when we’re mad at each other that we still love one another and that our family is more important than any disagreement.

Families can be together forever
I have a family here on Earth.
They are so good to me.
I want to share my life with them for all eternity.
Families can be together forever.
Through Heavenly Father’s plan.
I always want to be with my own family.
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.  

I love the lyrics to this song because it teaches how we can have eternal families. Each of us have a role and a specific part in the family. As we do our part we help to strengthen our family so that we can all be together forever. There is no guarantee that we will be a forever family unless we do all that is necessary of us. We each have to do our part and work together. Salvation is an individual feat, but exaltation is a joint effort.

We all need to remember that there is no formula or parenting book that will work for every family. What we do need to know is that as we hold fast to our families that we will find strength to overcome the obstacles of life. When hard times come don’t turn outwards but turn towards one another.
                    
                             
     



I’m Laura Clements and it has been a joy learning about the family dynamic with you! I hope you all enjoyed learning together this semester and will continue to learn more. Signing off for now, until next time.




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