Oct 8.97: Light For The Day - "Family Love"

Christian homes don't just happen -- they're built. - Anon.

Love wasn't put in your heart to stay;
Love isn't love until you give it away. - Anon.

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"This is my command: Love each other." 
- John 15:17 (NIV):

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"Family Love"

How are we to love? We are to love as God loves
us. . . we are to show acceptance and appreciation . . . 
(to) accept each other as God accepts us. Too many
parents refuse to accept and appreciate their children
for what they are. That is why a million American
children ran away from home last year. A team of
Yale researchers has concluded that the majority of
these runaways were attempting to escape an
unhappy family situation. They yearned to be
appreciated.

The causes of delinquency, we are told, are broken
homes, poverty, lack of recreational facilities, poor
physical health, racism, workaholic parents. and so
on . . .

The experts never seem to mention the lack of love,
or the lack of faith in God. Yet these are the two
most important elements for an adolescent's
successful maturity. 

How long has it been since you praised your children
instead of criticizing them? David prayed for
Solomon and daily praised him, and we are to praise
our children daily. Praise your spouse. I have found
that praise goes a lot further than criticism. 

Everybody needs to be appreciated.

Prayer:
It is so easy to criticize those close to me; but, Lord,
give me Your unreserved love so that they may know
how deeply I appreciate them.

-- Billy Graham

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"This is my commandment, that you love one
another as I have loved you." - John 15:12 (NIV) 

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MfC: List three things your family members has
done lately that are deserving of praise. Write
them in a love note to him or her.

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"Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it."
- Proverb 22:6 

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