Family Work & Play

“As Big Ocean Women we believe; The family unit has the potential to protect, shape, and lift humanity more than any other institution. As families learn, work, and serve harmoniously within the home, family members each develop a positive self-identity grounded in unconditional love.”

Recently I had the opportunity to escape on an adventure with my husband for our anniversary. My mother-in-law offered to watch our ten-month-old son, and we were so thankful to her for sacrificing so we could spend time together without our baby. (Trust me, for families to operate correctly, parents need alone time!) 

My husband had planned many adventures including rock climbing, hiking, seeing local sights, canyoneering, and spending quality time together. At the beginning of the trip, we were full of energy but by the last day, we were ready to go home, exhausted from our adventures. 

As I sat at the top of ancient art in Moab, Utah–200 feet above the canyon floor—it gave me a panorama vista, and it was an incredible thing to see the entire valley before me. Being that high up, really gave me the perspective I couldn’t really see while hiking in the canyon. 

As I reflected on this experience, I thought about how families show and develop unconditional love for each other through work, play, and self-identity. It is easy to get lost in the weeds or twisting winding trails of the day-to-day monotony in our families. We wake up, we stick to our schedules, go shopping, eat meals, get kids cleaned, and repeat. Little do we take time to see from above the canyon floor of our family and see from a higher perspective the little things that bring families together as we learn and grow together. 

So today, I challenge you to take time to step outside of the winding trails and see, from a different perspective, your little family and how it lifts each other together as a belayer helps to lift a climber up an obstacle.