Family Relations: Managing Risk

Imelda Diouf is a South African educator and Katarzyna Lewucha is a Polish social worker. The 2024 series continues to unpack the theme of family relations, using multicultural and multidisciplinary contexts.

One month into another year of goals and plans for the future. How did we get to the end of January so soon? Across social media, the creatives and sceptics are already sharing a countdown to the year-end.

People of different cultures and religions set resolutions at the start of a year. So, during January places of worship and gyms are generally full. Tertiary institutions and skills programmes make huge wins as adults determine that this will be the year to learn a new language, study business, become skilled in culinary competencies, creative crafts and DIY skills. Children are encouraged to play sports, take up new hobbies, take on extra classes to improve grades and make new friends. The lists are endless.

By February and into March, the numbers start decreasing. By June the numbers have further deteriorated and by October many goals have been forgotten. Just in time to start the year-end process of reflection and preparation for the next set of resolutions. Are the traditional New Year resolutions an absolute waste of time? Maybe! Maybe not! Who knows; there will always be supporters and opponents? As much as goals and resolutions bring rewards, they also bring risk and possible failure.

Yes, we cannot avoid stepping into a new year, because of fear of failure. Time, life movements, and the family circle impacts us all the time. We have to take and manage risks. There are two ways of approaching risk: strategy and trust in God. With strategy, we make assumptions of risk based on our needs, goals, strengths, weaknesses and possible opportunities. With trust, we take refuge in God. Proverbs 22.3 says that “a prudent man (or woman) sees danger and takes refuge”.

Family relations are all about managing risk. Thus, within a family, we reflect on the past to better understand the now, we plan for what could go wrong in the future, we carry out a plan and replan whenever we meet problems. There will always be advice. Proverbs 15:22 tells us that without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.

Resolutions can be good for both individuals and family groups. The making of resolutions can be a ceremony to plan the way forward at the beginning of every year. The start of a year is traditionally a time to start again; it represents a fresh start and creates the opportunity to leave behind that which does not work and start afresh. Yearly resolutions can be a reset button. Focus on simple ideas: Make 2024 a year to listen and be patient! In a world that is increasingly fragile as a result of wars and political disagreements, increased poverty and decreased quality of life, what family does not need listening and patience?

As Jesus, who took a massive risk of dying for us, families take risks for the sake of their loved ones, despite the calculated failure, or the extreme amount of suffering.

So, it makes sense that reflection and resolutions should be part of a family risk management plan. Proverbs  27:23-24 provides guidance on this matter: Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.

Generations. The past, the now and the future. Generations of families.