In successful families the members loyally support one another. The foundation for this high degree of commitment is the husband and wife seeing marriage as a lifelong relationship ''for better or for worse.'' 2. Strong families spend a lot of hours together. Good listening skills and the willingness to openly express thoughts and feelings to each other are typical of strong families. This doesn't happen automatically.
Families have to work at communicating effectively.
Expressing gratitude, paying sincere compliments, and giving praise are ways that members of strong families build each other up. 5. Strong families are not immune to crises, but they deliberately determine that they will work together as a team to overcome them. Members help each other through times of stress rather than letting the problems drive them apart. Even secular research points to the fact that strong families almost always exhibit a high level of religious commitment. Such families often express the idea that God has a purpose for their lives and they rely on Him as a source of strength.