Family Aroma

From FOCUS ON THE FAMILY, Today, 21-Apr-2008 edition

 

FAMILY AROMA

By Dr Bill Maier

 

What kind of memories do you have from your childhood?

 

Do you recall feelings of warmth and love – or stress and chaos?

 

How you answer has a lot to do with the environment your parents

created in the home, or what I like to call your “Family Aroma”.

 

There are five healthy “aromas” that families can create.

 

One is a feeling of affection. When family members truly care

for each other, that sense is carried over into the home.

 

Another aroma families can create is respect. This is a sense

of honour and recognition and worth.

 

A third aroma is order. This is the result of a healthy atmosphere

of involving discipline and control, creating a calm and safe place

to live.

 

Fourth is a sense of merriment. This helps your home become

a fun place to be, with lots of joy and laughter.

 

And finally, there is an aroma of affirmation. Children know

that they are loved and accepted, even when they don’t

measure up.

 

Who wouldn’t want to have those kinds of memories

of their childhood?