Fathers-in-law, are you patient with the young man who has entered your daughter’s life as her covering and protection?
Sons-in-law, do you promote richness in your relationship with your father-in-law, or is he the “old windbag” your wife calls Dad?
Daughters-in-law, do you reject the insight and wisdom of your mother-in-law because you view her as overbearing? If so, you are depriving yourself of a rich source of knowledge.
Mothers-in-law, do you accept your daughter-in-law as one of your own, loving her unconditionally while acknowledging that she must be first in your son’s life?
To all, are you as patient and long-suffering with your in-laws as you are with your own family? Look deep inside and answer truthfully.
When a new home is established, the man leaves his mother and father and cleaves to his wife. Their loyalty to each other surpasses any sense of loyalty to the families they came from. If this basic principle is understood by both the newly married couple and their families, many of the common problems that pop up with in-laws can be avoided from the start. Never should a man or woman feel as though they come second to their spouse’s family, and the one who creates that feeling is out of bounds and their actions bordering on betrayal.
Matthew 5:9 tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (NKJV). Division and discord within a family are always from the devil. If they have found their way into your home, examine yourself and see if you were the one who let them in. Dear friends, when in-laws seem like outlaws—or even act like them— someone has not followed God’s plan of living in peace. If that is you, purpose today to make peace a priority. Your in-laws can become just as dear to you as your natural family, and you can live happily even after combining two very different families into one. The choice is yours—in-laws or outlaws? Which will it be?
Excerpt from “Happily… Even After” now available on Amazon.
