Family Story: Consider the Plot {Defining Mission}

We spent the past month assessing and developing our core family values. Values are like beacons that point our focus and attention in a specific direction. Values are our WHY and once we know the why it’s time to determine the WHAT.

Businesses and ministries write mission statements to communicate what they are about and to identify what they want to stand for and spend their time building. Likewise, families can identify the assignment they feel called to accomplish by looking at where their values and life circumstances intersect.

Roy E. Disney said, “It’s not hard to make decisions once you know what your values are.” Before we dig into the idea of mission or assignment, let’s look back over our value statements and remind ourselves what we found to be most important in our lives. Often, we try to figure out WHAT we want to do before we determine our WHYs. If you are just now joining us along this journey, I encourage you to go back and read our posts on family values before you consider your family mission statement.

If our lives are a story then our family mission guides the plot. Our assignments will determine the words that are written with our lives. How we spend our days. . .months. . .years. . .each and every work we put our hands to will tell another tale about who we are.

A family mission statement is the fruit of considering our values and how they affect the work of our hands. In order to live an intentional family story, we must consider where our values and assignments intersect.

Grab your journal or paper and take notes as you consider these important questions.

What assignments do we currently hold?

Take inventory of your involvement and connections and make a list of what assignments your family is completing in this season. Your list may look something like this:

church ministry
involvement in my child’s school
mentoring young women
writing
local community service
family connection
coaching my child’s sports team
our family business

Encourage your children to make a list as well. Their list may look something like this:

school
friendships
sports teams
music lessons
helping around the house

Now hold this list next to your family values list and ask yourself, where do these lists intersect?

If one of your core family values is to love others in your community, identify which assignments are opportunities to do just that. You may come up with the conclusion that you can love others well at school, in the community and during extracurricular activities. Now you can see your mission statement begin to form.

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What do we spend our time on now that does not line up with our values?

Ask yourself, What do we need to say ‘no’ to? What do we need to give up or lay down? What is keeping us from saying ‘yes’ to something that is more in line with our values?

Just because something is right in front of you and good doesn’t mean you are supposed to do it. If you are spending quality time on something that does not line up with your core values, it may be time to let it go to make room for an assignment that does.

I keep a short list of ministries or efforts that I want to be associated with, which provides a guideline for me when considering new commitments or projects. I will always try to say yes to those things that line up with our mission. If something does not obviously line up with our core values or our family mission, it is easier to say ‘no’.

Next week we’ll take a look at what we’d like to be a part of our family mission and how our current story and circumstances may propel us to adopt a certain mission. We’ll spend some time considering those ministries and activities we are drawn to. For now, focus on what you’ve already got on your plate and determine how those things support your values. Pray and ask God to reveal connection points or disconnect.

Most mission statements are clear and concise. The mission of a business may only be one sentence. As a family with multiple members and personalities, your statement may be longer but doesn’t have to be complex. While there is no perfect “formula” for writing an effective family mission statement you can determine yours this way:

Values + Actions = Mission

A family mission statement can we as simple as this: To love God and love others by serving our family, our community and the world. This statement reveals the values of love, faith, family, community and worldview. It simply states that this family wants love and faith to be their guide as they serve those around them and those in need around the world. This statement can become a guideline by which a family lives their life and writes their story.

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But I’m getting ahead of myself. We want you to understand the end goal of considering where your values and assignments intersect. We want to encourage you to dig into this process as the next step in crafting an intentional family story. But first things first. Grab that paper and begin writing down your thoughts on the questions above.

Do you already feel you have a clear mission statement for your family? We’d love to read it in the comments below as inspiration as we continue this process.