In my fourteen years as a police officer, I had more than my share of domestic disturbance calls.  Some were even violent when arguments between spouses or family members became more than just a shouting match and physical abuse occured. I can hear many asking, “Surely that could not happen in a Christian home, could it?  Sadly, yes, our human nature being what it is.   When a home--any home--fails to live by God’s standards of Biblical conduct, it is always possible.  God’s Word gives us a recipe for a happy home, and, if followed, we can have a home where biblical harmony can prevail.  But the recipe must be followed daily:

4 cups of LOVE: 

“Let love be without dissimulation(hypocrisy). Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another." (Romans 12:9a-10) "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25) 

2 cups of LOYALTY: 

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.” (John 15:13.) As Christ willingly lay down His life you and me, we must value and treasure the friendship of our family ultimately. Be loyal to them, even when they fail us.

3 cups of FORGIVENESS: 

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15). Having an unforgiving spirit will ultimately lead to a bitter spirit and destroy harmony and love in your home.

1 cup of FRIENDSHIP:

As Proverbs 18:24 states, “A man that friends MUST shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Christ is the greatest friend anyone could ever have.  And our friendship to others, and especially our family, should reflect Christ.

Then, HOPE, of which we need five spoonsfull.

“And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Hope is listed as one of the three major gifts of God to His people in 1 Corinthians 13: 13.

2 spoonsfull of TENDERNESS: 

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32.)  Tenderness sometimes requires we soften an answer to another person. As Proverbs 15:1 says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” Tenderness looks beyond the problem and sees the need in the other’s heart and tenderly responds accordingly. Those two spoons of tenderness can speak volumes.

4 quarts of FAITH comes next:

We are admonished a to “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11:22.) “For we walk by faith not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7.) There are many times in family relationships when we must exercise simple faith in God that He has it all in control. We may not understand what's going on with a family member, but we must trust that God does and has it under control. That requires faith on our part.

The last ingredient is a barrel of LAUGHTER.

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22.) “The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Take love and loyalty, mix them thoroughly with faith; blend with tenderness, kindness, and understanding; add friendship and hope; and sprinkle abundantly with laughter. Bake with sunshine and serve daily in generous helpings.