Family Values
Why and How to lead your family with intention
Leading a family with wisdom and excellence requires more than just hoping for the best—it requires well stated intentions. Without a clear vision and purpose, our daily routines are shaped by default rather than design, leading to habits we never meant to form. The little choices we make each day—how we speak to one another, how we respond to stress, how we prioritize our time—ultimately define the culture of our home. And without a guiding framework, it’s all too easy to drift toward distraction, busyness, or habits that weaken rather than strengthen our family bonds.
That’s why I believe having a family motto—something simple yet meaningful—can help keep our values at the forefront of our lives. For my family, I created an acronym using our last name, Parmenter, as a way to articulate the principles we want to live by. 1 While a shorter last name might make this practice even more memorable, the real power isn’t in the letters themselves but in the intentionality behind them.
Parmenter Motto
P - Prayerful: We respond to all situations, good or bad, with prayer first, seeking God's guidance and wisdom.
A - Accountable: We take responsibility for our actions and choices, honor commitments, and strive to grow.
R - Resilient: We do hard things and remain steadfast and strong in the face of challenges, trusting God to bring us through.
M - Merciful: We show compassion and forgiveness, especially when we don’t want to, because God forgave us first.
E - Ethical: We uphold honesty, integrity, and righteousness in all areas of our lives, even when no one would know.
N - Nurturing: We encourage and support one another, caring for our outcast and needy neighbors.
T - Thankful: We express gratitude daily for God's blessings and the people in our lives.
E - Empowered: We act with confidence and strength, trusting in our ability to figure things out and our identity in Christ.
R - Rejoicing: We find joy and praise God, no matter the circumstances, being a light in others’ lives.2
If you were to create an acronym for your family, what words would you choose? What virtues, habits, and principles do you want to define your home? As you think through this, consider areas that many of us struggle with—like being fully present. I didn’t include it in our acronym, but I think something about being intentional with time, such as putting away phones when spending time together, would be a great addition. Maybe for your family, patience, generosity, or humility need to be front and center.
The goal isn’t perfection but direction. A family motto serves as a reminder of who we strive to be, keeping us anchored when life gets chaotic. So, take a few moments to reflect: What do you want your family to be known for? What values do you want to pass down? And how can you craft a simple, memorable way to keep those principles at the heart of your home?
SDG
Yes, this was when I was working on the wisdom acronym. I like acronyms.
Now I want to write a article about “Toxic Positivity”