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Close and Happy Family Life
1 Chronicles 6:33
"And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,"
One thing that most families truly desire is to be close and happy. Yet, with Satan's attack against the home, you see more and more families that struggle with being close and happy. Of course, a close family will be a happy family. A family that is not close to each other will not be a happy family.
The verse above shows a family that seemed to be happy. We don't know much about what this family did while they were together at home, but we can see three things this family did that gave them the closeness and happiness that surely you desire for your family. Though this is only a microcosm of what it takes to have a close and happy family, I believe these things will help you with your family.
First, they were a singing family. In verse 32, the Scriptures says about this family, "And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing,..." Yes, this family was talented and had the ability to sing in the tabernacle, but for them to sing in public they had to first sing at home. One of the fond memories I have about growing up was when our family would get around the piano and sing together. I believe it is good for families to sing together. This is one reason why it would be good for you to make sure your girls take piano lessons, because they will use the ability to play that piano with their family. To help your family stay close and happy, have a time when the family sits down and sings together. Go around to each member of the family and ask what they want to sing, and then sing it. There is something about singing together that brings happiness to the home.
Second, they were a serving family. In the verse above, you will notice that this family "waited with their children." The word "waited" is the same word we use for serving. This family knew the importance of serving God. Your family will never have the closeness and happiness which you desire until you serve God. God is the One Who founded the home. Until you get the Founder involved in the home, then the home will not be happy. Be careful about getting so wrapped up in worldly affairs that the family doesn't have time to serve God. At the top of your priority list for your family should be serving God. You will never acquire a happy family until you serve God.
Last, they were a together family. Notice in the verse above it says, "with their children." It wasn't mom and dad serving God alone, it was the whole family serving God together. A close family is a family that does things together. Be careful about everybody in the family doing their own thing. Even in the church, the family needs to do things together. If you are not careful, dad has his duties in the church, mom has her duties in the church, the children have their duties and activities in the church, and nobody is doing anything together. It's good that the whole family is involved in the church, but it's better if the whole family serves God together. Even around the home, be sure that the family does things together. Don't allow one child to be the loner. Yes, you will have times when each member of the family is doing some things alone, but on the whole the family needs to do things together.
It will never be easy to keep your family happy and close, but the effort spent doing so will be rewarding. When the family is close and not feuding with each other, then home will be a happy and peaceful place for all. It will become a place where the family looks forward to being. Ask God to help you have a close and happy family, and then start singing and serving God together.