I Will Strengthen Thee; I Will Help Thee

“I have never made a mistake with any of my own children. Most women can’t claim that.” (she’s single)
What is the difference between a stable family and a dysfunctional family?

• The members of a stable family know who they are, where they are going, and what they want to achieve.
• The members of a dysfunctional family do not know who they are; they have no plan, no anchor, and no core set of values or standards to set their course.
• In a stable family, loving parents teach by example and don’t just tell their children to do something. They do it with them and show them how things are done.

Children are generally very accepting of their parents and the mistakes parents make. They often forgive, forget, and move on much more quickly than adults do. Don’t feel guilty. Apologize when you have made a mistake. Seek the child’s forgiveness.

The greatest help we will have in strengthening families is to know and follow the doctrines of Christ and rely on Him to help us.
So often as I have worked with families with problems, I have found myself wishing that these families knew of the Savior and were teaching their children the doctrines of Jesus Christ.

Remember the great love of our Savior. He said in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.” Then in verse 13 He says again, “I will help thee.” And once more in verse 14 He says, “I will help thee.”

Believe the Savior.
– notice that it was not “Believe in the Savior.”