Ok, being real here – we put this off for years. Writing a family mission statement seemed like a daunting task, but turned into being a life-giving experience for us. Not necessarily in the crafting of it, but in the fruit of daily pursing it, and being intentional about the values and beliefs that are at the heart of our family.
God’s word is very clear about the power that our words carry, which we all know.
But did you know that God’s word is also very clear about having a vision backed by belief and rooted in the Law of the Lord!
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but blessed is he that keeps the law.” –Proverbs 29:18 NKJV
And I love the way the message bible translates this same scripture:
“If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.” –Proverbs 29:18 The Message (MSG)
When we can’t see where God has taken us, or be led by his plans and purpose for us, we will stumble (fall into distraction, busyness, and fall into the patterns of this world.) But when they attend (pay attention to, pause enough to see and hear) what he reveals, they are most blessed.
I don’t know about you, but I want my marriage, my family to be most blessed. Not just financially, but even more so blessed in spiritual practices, relationally, and by being fruitful for the kingdom of God!
It’s more than just having strong beliefs as a family – God’s word encourages us to write it down! When we write down a family mission statement it allows us to remember his faithfulness, and have hope as we look back and see how our vision has led us through so many seasons of life.
“Therefore write down the things you have seen, and the things that are, and the things that will happen after this.” -Revelation 1:19
“For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” -Romans 15:4
A family mission statement may sound formal and you may even think that it’s unnecessary, or like me, is just another thing on the to-do list that sounds daunting.
But let me tell you, it is so rewarding, so worth it, and allows intentional time for us as a couple, and as a family to openly discuss our beliefs in a safe place together. I believe it’s important to have a vision for whatever and for every season you’re in.
Whether you’re single, or praying for your future spouse, I encourage you to write a family mission statement (even if it’s just you right now) reflecting on your personal values.
Whether you’ve been married for a month, or 25 years, writing a family mission statement will help you define, establish and stay focused on your vision; on what you’re in pursuit of as a couple. (and it will provide a firm foundation when tension arises!)
Whether you are a family of 3, 5, or 10 – a family mission statement is something that will continue to evolve as your family does. The heart behind it will remain the same, but this is a great way to pursue connection as your children grow, and as a bonus, it cultivates quality time as a family.
The most important thing is that you include something from each family member in your statement. The final product is less important than the journey your family takes to create it. It does not, and will not be perfect. It’s not set in stone. It won’t, nor should it look like anyone else’s, but this is to be the heartbeat of your marriage; your family. It’s something that will be a mantlepiece in your home.
To be seen.
To be remembered.
To be lived.
“Okay, so where do I start?”
I’m so glad you asked!
Here are 5 easy steps to writing a family mission statement:
- Reflection Questions – Start with reflection questions to get everyone thinking. Let each person answer, and try to stay focused on positive things. Don’t use this as a time for correction for your children or spouse, but make it a safe place for connection. Here are some example questions to get you started:
– What do you value about our family/us?
– What would others say about our family/us?
– What is something you love doing together?
– Who is another family/couple you admire?
– What do you admire about them?
– What word do you think the Lord would use to describe our family/us?
– What makes you feel safe in our relationship/as a family?
– What kind of legacy do we want to leave?
- Identify Core Values – Core values are fundamental beliefs in your family. These principles will help guide behavior and navigate right and wrong decisions for your family. Core values lay the groundwork with tangible steps to fulfilling your purpose as a family, by discussing values and establishing beliefs that guide your daily lives. Your core values will be the foundation of your family mission statement that will create an unwavering guide for you, your spouse, and/or children to be led by in every season.
A core value is something that even under pressure, persuasion, or even if we had to pay penalties, or had to punish our children for violating it, we would still hold to it. Keep in mind, core values are not goals. Goals are changing, core values are timeless.
Here are some categories to help you establish your family’s core values:
FAMILY – examples: respect, family nights, vacations, serving, giving, etc.
FAITH – examples: church leadership, time with God, praying, growing spiritually, the fruits of the Spirit, etc.
COMMUNITY – examples: giving back, volunteering time, generosity, friendships, relationships, etc.
WORK/SCHOOL – examples: hard work, money values, working as a team, valuing education, etc.
MORAL VALUES – examples: humility, vulnerability, honesty, integrity, taking responsibility, standing up for what’s right, etc.
If your children say I love pizza nights in your reflection questions above, something that your core value could represent is having unplugged, quality time as a family.
- Rooted in Scripture – There is power in devoting time to discovering scriptures that reflect us as a couple/family. Once you’ve had a chance to reflect as a couple/family, take this time to note 2-3 scriptures that embody some of your core values or things you’ve discussed above. This could be specific verses that have led your marriage or your family through the years or verses that remind you of God’s faithfulness in your marriage and family.
For example, if one of your core values was generosity, you could use a scripture referencing a generous giver in the bible. If it was hardworking, you could find scripture on perseverance.
- Purpose Statement – This is where you take your reflection questions, core values, and scriptures from above and put them into a “purpose statement” or sentence form.
If one of your core values as a family is that you are generous, you could state something like, “In this family, we lack no good thing, but are generous on every occasion.” combining the scriptures with your core values.
- Vision Statement – Here is the part where you put everything above into your family mission statement. Don’t overthink this part! This is not made to be perfect, but something that can and will evolve as the dynamic changes, but the heart of your vision will always be the same.
Call to Action
Make reviewing your mission statement a family tradition. Your family’s mission statement provides your family with a sense of unified identity, a shared vision, and meaning. Think of your family mission statement as something that will grow as your family grows. Spend time reviewing it each year and modifying it to fit what’s most important to your family as your family grows and evolves!
For your free printable to help create your family vision statement in 5 easy steps, click HERE to download it then simply print it out and create away! Once you’re done, we’d love for you to share it in the comments below and/or share it on your social media platforms and tag us! We are inspired by your vision for your family, and can’t wait to see how God uses these tangible steps to establish a firm foundation in your family!
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