Family Help Tip: The Tough Part of Love

Family Help Tip: The Tough Part of Love

The word "love" isn't meant to be like jello, a gushy, feely, up one moment and down the next type of word. Love isn't always a "feel good" word packaged with a dozen red roses and a box of chocolates, or smothered with hugs and kisses and warm wooleys.

There is a tough part to the word "love" that is almost the exact opposite:

• This is the part of love that is tough as nails. It hangs in there when the road gets bumpy and the going gets tough.
  


• This part of love is the anchor that won't give up even when everything inside of you says to quit.
  


• This is the part of love that decides not to bail on your teenager when everything is going wrong.
  


• This is the part of love that disciplines your children for bad behavior, even when it's inconvenient. (Yes, it's true: It hurts you more than them, but it makes a point that there are consequences for your actions.)


• This is the part of love that continues to believe in someone no matter what. (It's easier to believe in yourself if someone else believes in you.)
  


• This is the part of love that is willing to walk through the mud and get dirty because you meant it when you said "Till death do us part."
  

The word "love" isn't just a Hersheys candy bar that melts in your mouth, but it's a power bar packed full of energy, purpose, and power. Tough love is the intentional part of love that strengthens it and holds it together.

Family Help Tip: The One THING that CAN'T Fail

Family Help Tip: The One Thing that Can't Fail -

I don't know about you, but I've had a few things in life that I tried and downright failed at. We all have things in our past that didn't go quite as planned, and we missed the mark and fell flat on our face. In fact, it may have left a mark or a scar on our life.

Here's the point though. As a whole, our culture is failing at family instead of winning at family. The divorce rate is sky high (according to one internet source, the US has the highest divorce rate in the world with the exception of Sweden, who is slightly ahead of us). More marriages are breaking up than staying together. Why???

Here's why families are failing: There is one important ingredient that is missing: "Love". Now, wait, before you say, "Oh, but that's not true", there is something you need to know about this word "love". I'm not talking about the world's definition of love, where I'll love you if you love me back. Or, I'll love you if you make me happy and do the right things... or I'll love you if I feel like it. NO, that isn't true love! True love is unconditional. It doesn't jump out of the boat when there's water in it... Instead, it starts bailing so it can keep afloat! This love doesn't give up, believes in the other person, is patient, and doesn't retaliate in anger and selfishness.

Now, I'm not saying this is an easy kind of love! In fact, this love is contrary to human nature... to give without expecting anything in return. But, I can promise you this. If you walk in this kind of love, you CAN'T FAIL at marriage or at family.