All Families Have Conflict

 

Her two elementary age sons got into a fight after getting home from school. When she got upstairs, they were screaming at each other. She broke it up and sent them to their rooms. Her teenage daughter was pouting with her, because they had a disagreement about a boy she wanted to date. When her husband got home, he had a terrible day at work and was in a bad mood. He spoke sharply to her, and she finally "lost it." She began to cry. He apologized to her and held her in his arms. She said to him, "Why can't we just have a happy family?"

Points to Consider

All families have conflict. As a matter of fact, conflict is a normal part of life. Even "happy families" have conflict from time to time. The family is a place to learn how to do conflict management. Make every conflict a teachable moment.

Discuss disagreements openly and honestly. Only a dysfunctional family refuses to discuss problems and disagreements. Happy families are not based on pretending everything is okay when it's not.

Learn to process anger. Accept anger as a normal human emotion. Learn how to process anger with acceptable expression. For example, admit when you are angry. Discuss why you are angry. And don't sin by letting anger gain control over you.

Love is the key to a happy family. A husband's love for his wife, and parent's love for children sets the example. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged . . . Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Express love to each family member through words, hugs, and actions.