Family and Faith Magazine March 2015 | Page 9

EMPOWERMENT Be Still AND KNOW By Her Excellency Rev. Dr. Iva Gloudon, Contributor T oday we have to consider many different formats when we speak about family and family life. The traditional nuclear family of the Western world is being reshaped mainly to address some of the modern issues that confront us all. Older children who have graduated from university, for example, are returning to live with their parents, as today a degree does not necessarily mean that they can find jobs to enable them to live on their own. Aging populations also now mean that some grandparents live with their children’s family. In my case, I have always been single and did not birth any children, but adopted my three nieces when their father, my brother, died. Almost twenty-four years ago when she became widowed, my mother came to live with me. All of these non-traditional arrangements bring challenges to the table that are definitely compounded when you are a woman in leadership who wants to maintain a healthy family life, be successful at the job, and serve your God. The first admission is that it is not easy and what works for some does not work for others. It is indeed a journey of faith, and trial and error, but knowing some things up front will help to minimize the errors and enhance the successes. “ The traditional nuclear family of the Western world is being reshaped mainly to address some of the modern issues that confront us all. " The second admission is that you really want to succeed all around. You want to raise healthy, well-adjusted children, and you want to satisfy yourself that your professional goals are realized. It means that you sometimes have to give way, but in giving way, you are still satisfied that you made a choice that you wanted to make and that you can live with it. After all, success is not Family and Faith Magazine | www.familyandfaithmagazine.com | Monday, March 2, 2015 9