Transform Your Family with These Vital Traits

Perfect families don’t exist. But fortunately, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s a family that is healthy and strong. But how do we achieve that?

Dr. Gary Chapman teaches families to think like a banker. Bankers don’t learn to spot counterfeit bills. They become so familiar with the real thing that they can easily spot a counterfeit. Becoming a healthy family begins by understanding what a healthy family looks like.

To that end, I’m airing a recorded message by Dr. Chapman on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly in which he shares five vital traits of a healthy family as well as steps you can take to communicate better and grow closer together.

According to Dr. Chapman, the five fundamentals of a healthy family are:

A heart for service.
Husbands and wives who relate intimately.
Parents who guide their children.
Children who obey and honor their parents.
Husbands who love and lead.

This is what healthy families are all about. We serve each other and then we go out in the community and serve people. Imagine what would happen if this giving attitude permeated every family throughout our country.

Dr. Chapman says: “The health of your family makes a difference not only to you and your children, but to the thousands of young observers who are in search of a functional family.”

Hear Dr. Gary Chapman’s talk delivered to an audience in Winston Salem, NC on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, or listen on our free phone app. This program is part of our “Best of” programs for 2025, airing throughout the month of December.

In the meantime, if your family is struggling, we have caring, Christian counselors who will listen, pray with you, and get you on a path toward healing and hope. They’ll also direct you to additional resources in your area if necessary. Call us, leave your name and number, and we’ll get back with you as soon as possible. The number during business hours is 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).

Dr. Chapman’s book 5 Traits of a Healthy Family: Steps You Can Take to Grow Closer, Communicate Better, and Change the World Together is available through our ministry for a gift of any amount. Click here for more information.

And when you help Focus on the Family today with a gift, your donation will be DOUBLED for twice the impact in helping others through this ministry. Our thanks to generous donors who’ve made that possible.