I see one of my children building a Lincoln Log cabin. I am amazed how nice constructions they can make. As a parent you know they had put a lot of thought into it. Building anything takes effort. YOu probably have had another shared experience. A younger sibbling comes along and with his arm or leg goes swoosh right through the elaborate structure. Like a scorching fire, all we see are the remains of intense planning and lots of tears and frustration!

The scriptures speak of the family as something that is built and planned. A good family always has design. More than this, it is clearly said that unless God builds it, it is in vain.

(A Song of Ascents, of Solomon.) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. Behold, children are a gift of the LORD; The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They shall not be ashamed, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:1-5, NASB).

When tradition is good and strong, people just learn about this plan without thinking. They just adopt the same decisions as their neighbors. This is where the culture begins to go astray. People have unconsciously adopted a good plan, but they do not know why. They have not thought of it. And most importantly, they do not know how to pass this vision on. If the culture remains strong and fixed, it will not be a problem. But as we know, culture changes and the decisions by the young people not to adopt their parents' perspective brings much tension.

We need to realize that if it takes a lot of effort to build a physical house where people live, it takes much more wisdom to create and maintain a good working family. Listen to Solomon's words.

By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. (Proverbs 24:3-5, NASB).

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, Behold, I will set your stones in antimony, And your foundations I will lay in sapphires. "Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, And your gates of crystal, And your entire wall of precious stones. "And all your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great. "In righteousness you will be established; You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; And from terror, for it will not come near you. "If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. "Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, And brings out a weapon for its work; And I have created the destroyer to ruin. "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their vindication is from Me," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:11-17, NASB).

"And all your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great" (Isaiah 54:13, NASB).