There is a lot of talk today about healthy living – eating healthy, healthy exercise, keeping your mind healthy. Yet, even with all the abundant resources available to live a healthy lifestyle, there are a lot of us who give more lip service to the subject of healthy living than actually living healthy.  Healthy living doesn’t happen simply because you know what it is.  It requires action – consistent, disciplined action.

Healthy families don’t happen without intentionality either. They require lots of perseverance and effort. The truth is that healthy families—in fact, healthy relationships in general—are more likely to occur when there is a mutual understanding about who God is, who we are, and why we are here. It’s called worldview—our view of life that directs the way we live and how we relate. Healthy, stable families live, not only for themselves, but also for each other.

If you want to build a healthy family environment, here are four pillars of a biblical worldview that promote healthy families:

1. An environment of trust. Does every generation of your family feel like this is a safe place to ask hard questions and express doubts without being judged or condemned? Listen well, avoid doling out advice when not solicited, value the input of every generation, and show you are teachable too.
2. A spirit of humility. (Phil. 2:4): Demonstrate your commitment to the interest of others above your own. Be willing to say “I don’t know” or “I was wrong. Will you forgive me”?
3. A high view of God. The term “God-fearing” is a description that is not much used anymore. That’s unfortunate. It used to describe those who understood the sovereignty, majesty, and (Dt. 6:1-2): Living in the context of a biblical high view of God and who we are as His creation! This also demands a high view of the authority of the Bible as God’s Word.
4. A habitat of blessing. Establish a tradition of spoken blessing in your family. If you have not already downloaded my pdf file, “Cultivating a Legacy of Blessing”, click here to get your free download

Healthy families do not let anyone falsely assume the world revolves around them. At the same time, they communicate a high value, personal worth, and divine purpose as image-bearers of God. Healthy families love God wholeheartedly and love each other unconditionally. May God give you wisdom to faithfully lead them on the path of a long, healthy life.

What are the challenges and successes you experience building a healthy inter-generational family environment?

GRANDPAUSE: “These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe… so that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live… and so that you may enjoy long life.”

Deuteronomy 6:1-2

“To walk in the truth means to order your life by the Word of God. If we want our children (and grandchildren) to walk in the truth, we must live by that same truth before them.”  –Emerson Eggerich

Cavin Harper is a graduate of Baylor University and Denver Seminary, Cavin Harper served as an associate pastor for 17 years before founding ElderQuest Ministrieswhich later became known as the Christian Grandparenting Network. He writes a weekly blog on grandparenting and has authored several books including Courageous Grandparenting: Building a Legacy Worth Outliving.

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