Not Without My Family!

Every day parents and spouses leave their families in the pursuit of success. In

the book, Your Road Map for Success, John Maxwell says, "It's almost as though they're

driving down the road, and they get pretty far along before they realize they've

left members of their family behind. The tragedy is that many value their careers,

success, or personal happiness more than they do their families. They decided that

it's too much work to go back, so they just keep driving. "



My husband, James, had the wisdom of knowing 23 years ago that his family was more

valuable to him than success on the job. Twice we had to make the decision to stay

together as a couple and family, or have a commuter marriage while working in separate

cities. Both times James was very firmed with his conviction that we would live

and work in the same city even if it meant having a job that brought in a little

less income. Today, I am grateful that James made the decision to put family first

because together we were able to provide a stable home environment for our son,

as well as, for our own relationship.


I truly believe that the hype of happiness at the expense of breaking up a family

is an illusion. You can't give up your marriage or neglect your children and gain

true success. As Nick Stinnet asserted more than a decade ago, "When you have a

strong family life, you receive the message that you are loved, cared for, and

important. The positive intake of love, affection, and respect .... Gives you inner

resources to deal with life more successfully."


I can personally testify how God blesses those who put family above career. James

and I have achieved much success not due to income from our respective employers,

but because of God's grace.  Let me know  your thoughts ....


"But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household,
he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." I Timothy 5:8

Self fulfillment or Self development?

Beginning in the late 60s and early 70s, people began talking about "finding
themselves," meaning that they were searching for a way to become self-fulfilled. It's like making "happiness" your goal, because self-fulfillment is about feeling good.

But, what is really needed to reach God's given vision and dreams is self-development. Self-development is different from self-fulfillment. Sure, much of the time self-development will make you feel good, but that's a by-product, not the goal. Self-development is a higher calling: it is the development of our potential so that we can fulfill the purpose for which we were created. There are times when that's fulfilling, but other times it's not. But no matter how it makes us feel, self-development always has one effect: It draws us toward our God-given destiny.

As Rabbi Samuel M. Silver said, "The greatest of all miracles is that we need not be tomorrow what we are today, but we can improve if we make use of the potential implanted in us by God. " Think about how that line-of-thinking applies not only to your personal goals, but also to the goals for your marriage and family.

If you want real change, start with self development and self fulfillment will be come.

What do you think? Let me hear from you.

Your for a divine marriage,

Yvette