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Will Having a Perfect Family Make You Happy?
By Kendra | July 5, 2010
I’ve been blessed to be part of a weekly book study this summer, reading James MacDonald’s Lord, Change My Attitude (Before It’s Too Late). Pastor MacDonald shows us how our attitudes can place us in the dry wilderness, and how we can replace them with Biblical truths.
I needed this. I’ve just plain had a stinky attitude about many things this past year, so when a friend of mine told me she’d be leading the study in her home, I begged to be a part of it. If she’d said no, I probably would have had a bad attitude 
Sometimes, we homeschooling parents can be so devoted to the raising of our families that we replace our focus on Jesus with a focus on family. Like Pastor MacDonald, I too am grateful for ministries like Focus on the Family (my mom was listening in on FOTF broadcasts when I was a pre-teen) and Family Life Today (I ♥ Family Life Today. Have I ever told you that?). But, our happiness is never, never, never, never wrapped up in a Christian family.
Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain. (I Timothy 6:6)
Godliness + A Christian Family DOES NOT.
“…you will never have a perfect family. At least one of your kids will make sure of that, or you will mess it up in some way yourself. Please don’t put all your happiness eggs in the perfect family basket. Yes! Let’s obey God’s Word. Yes! Let’s do all we can to help our families mature in the things of God. But let’s not set ourselves up for a lot of hurt and heartache in the future by thinking, ‘If I could just have the perfect Christian home, then that would be all I would ever need.’
No. No. No. Godliness plus family harmony does not equal great gain.”
Topics: Nurturing Moms, Resources | 11 Comments »
July 5th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Thank you for the reminder…it is far too easy to get caught up in doing things for God and to forget about my personal relationship with Him.
July 5th, 2010 at 7:26 am
Yes, it doesn’t take children to mess things up. I can do that all by myself. Good post, my love!
July 5th, 2010 at 7:53 am
So glad June is over and we get to hear from you again! Can’t wait to see you guys! And yes, thank you for the reminder:)
July 5th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
I appreciate the wise words, Kendra!
July 6th, 2010 at 3:21 am
This is so true. What do you do when you see people you know “worshiping” their children? Should you say something, or is it a lesson God must teach?
July 6th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Good question, Renee. I believe it’s always better to let the Holy Spirit do His job. Pray for them, though!
July 6th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Ouch!!!! The stab of conviction in my heart while reading this was nearly overwhelming. I have been such a pain to live with recently and would almost bet that is my problem. The perfectionist bug has struck again. Thank you so much for the reminder.
July 6th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Ooh, this sounds like a book/study I could really use. Thanks, Kendra! I’m putting this book on my TBR list!
July 13th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Love the statement regarding homeschooling families replacing Jesus with family.
Humans are so quick to make a god out of something- even something that sounds good.
July 15th, 2010 at 8:27 am
thanks for this!
July 16th, 2010 at 7:33 am
Thank you for this, Kendra. It is confirmation of things I’ve been thinking about lately. But of course, the same thing can be said for “a good church” or “a God-honoring covenant community.” Sometimes, without even realizing it has happened we have set our “happiness” on those things. Of course a good church and community is essential for us Christians but it is not our Savior. There is only one.
“Look to Me, and be saved…” Isaiah 45:22