You may have heard the saying: “It won’t stick until it becomes a lifestyle.” Diet plans come and go. Some work while others are soon forgotten. Many of us have seen this when it comes to eating and exercise.
But what about other aspects of your life, such as your family’s health? Are there any relational changes that need to be made right now for a better-functioning home unit?
Try this Healthy Home Workout Plan:
Time
For some individuals, time spent together is the love language of their hearts! But for everyone, time given to cultivating relationships is a necessity. My dad once told me that it’s important for parents to provide both the quantity of time with their kids and not just the quality of big-time fun! Now that I’m a parent, I would agree that many children would spell true love shown by their parents as T-I-M-E.
Conversation
To know someone intimately, you must communicate with them. It’s through conversations that we get to the heart of what makes others come alive in their interests and gifting. Think of some uninterrupted stints of time you can spend talking with—or listening to—your family members. This can be done in almost any setting—playing at a park, walking on a sidewalk, kneeling by a bedside, or even cooking in the kitchen. The point is to have fun, light-hearted conversations with your family members as often as possible.
Forgiveness
Everyone, young and old, makes mistakes and has the need to be forgiven. Without forgiveness, broken relationships cannot move forward in a healthy way since there will always be that “something” held over the offending person’s head. Forgiveness is not the same as forgetting about someone’s wrongdoing; it’s the intentional willingness to let go of it. When forgiveness happens, healthy interactions between family members can once again become restored.
Health in any area of life takes time and practice. Don’t let discouragement set you back. Keep your eyes focused on the goal and take small steps to success!