Establishing A Strong Family

What nation has the weakest families?  A few years ago I ran into some research that gave me the answer to my question.

“The State of Our Unions “, an annual report put out by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, highlighted the dismal state of the family in the United States. Among the findings:

  • Only 63 percent of American children grow up with both biological parents, the lowest percentage among Western nations.
  • The U.S. divorce rate has declined over the past 25 years, but that is offset by the even greater decline in marriages.
  • Instead of marriage, couples are living together. Yet cohabiting couples have twice the breakup rate of married couples.

Co-author of the study, David Popenoe, said, “Cohabitation is here to stay. I don’t think it’s good news, especially for children. As society shifts from marriage to cohabitation—which is what’s happening—you have an increase in family instability.” According to Popenoe, the result of that instability is that “the United States has the weakest families in the Western world.”

As discouraging as all this may be, the good news is that your family is not destined to follow the national trends.  Jesus has promised to help you establish a strong family – a family that honors Him and blesses your children.

 

With Love,

Mike

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