Happy families are built around homes with responsible rules.  But you say, “I hate rules!  Rules restrict creativity.  Rules need someone to police them.  Rules of the home mean I have to follow them too!”

In a world where the distinctives of cultural and moral differences are being blended into a one world culture, governments make laws that force the acceptance of all.  Our schools and businesses are increasingly made up of peoples from different cultural, religious and racial backgrounds.  We avoid conflict by asking all to “think of the other person.”  While that sounds good, it asks us to follow a new set of standards that are established by an independent group who claim to know what is best for a new multi-cultural, multi-racial “rainbow society.”

How does this affect a family?  The traditional values of our grandparents are discarded as prejudicial and out of tune with the new global community.  Parents establish rules of the home that conflict with rules set by schools.  The church and the home used to be the foundations of society.  That is no longer the case.  International societies, established in various countries for good reasons, now try to set guidelines that define families and assure acceptance of the individual regardless of their ideology.  The individual, regardless of age, sex, race or culture is the final authority on their life.  Is this good for the health of a family?

Understand that there have been massive abuses in societies with restrictive rules.  Women and children have been abused, people enslaved and gross prejudice encouraged. It is right to correct these abuses.

As a youth I competed in track and field.  When our national team traveled outside of the US, we went for a week of orientation in Washington, DC.  We were reminded that we represented a country.  We would be guests of every country we visited.  It would be wrong and offensive to insist on my personal rights when I was a guest in someone else’s home.  In order to compete at an international level, I also knew the rules of the sport.  As long as I knew and followed expected rules, I had a great time.  The same is important in our homes.  We have the right to establish responsible rules that benefit the family and respect the rights of each other.  Children who know what to expect, know there are no surprises.  The Lord reminded the descendants of Abraham to write the “family rules” on their doorframes and even tie them to our bodies.  God’s blessings come with obedience.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.