This article is written by BCC Counselor Mark Johnson as part of our new series on the family. In this series, our counselors are examining various difficulties of family life and sharing ways to pursue healthier family dynamics.
On a trip to Israel, our tour group stopped at the baptismal site of Jesus on the southern part of the Jordan River (now called Qasr al-Yahud). It is an amazing place, as several houses of worship were built to memorialize Jesus’ baptism.
At the time we visited, we were told to take extraordinary caution because of the presence of landmines.
There were signs everywhere in multiple languages around the roped-off areas noting where you could walk and where you could not.
Some of our families’ communication styles can be like visiting Qasr al-Yahud, except without warnings and roped-off areas. We don’t know when we are venturing into the land mines of differing opinions, habits, and practices.
Some families may include the freedom to “yell and get it off your chest,” whereas my family grew up with a “sulk by yourself, and by all means, maintain the peace” motto on the family coat of arms.
Conflict and broken relationships
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