Extended Family

I value my extended family as part of God's design for human community

I approach family gatherings as opportunities to show grace, not just survive them

I see differences in my extended family as chances to practice acceptance

I show up for family events and celebrations, not just in times of crisis

I stay curious about relatives' lives rather than sticking only to people I find easy

I avoid gossip about family members — I speak about them the way I would want to be spoken about

I do not let family dysfunction define me or become my identity

I accept that I cannot fix or change my extended family — I can only bring Jesus into my part of it

I choose to forgive repeated patterns rather than keeping score

I set loving limits on what I will participate in without cutting people off in anger

I pray for difficult family members by name rather than just venting about them

I look for the one reachable person in a difficult family system and invest there