Family Mission Statement

Does your family have a mission statement?  

What does that even mean?  Have you heard of a family mission statement before?

Years ago, Brandon brought up this idea to me...and to be honest, I kind of chuckled at him (okay, actually, I fully laughed out loud at him...I admit it.)  Then a few weeks ago, I noticed this very question...Does your family have a mission statement?...in a Facebook post for an adoption magazine.

It got me thinking.

Kind of a cool idea.  No actually, really, a very cool idea.  As adults, we have mission statements at our churches, at our places of employment...and many businesses we shop at hold them as well.  As kids, we're exposed to mission statements from our teachers during our school days.  Mission statements are everywhere.  They seem to give us a sense of purpose.  A goal.  A sense of unity.  Community.  Our very human nature seems to connect and align with mission statements.

I want to create a family mission statement for us.  For me, Brandon, and Mya.

Something we can all agree with and believe in.

In some ways, I don't even know where to start.  Like, do we make the mission statement all formal with fierce vocabulary and formality?  Yuck.  No.  I want our mission statement to be unique to the three of us.  A mission statement just for the three of us.  And, how cool that other families can or do have mission statements, too...with similarities and differences between ours and theirs.  

And when do we start?  Is Mya too young for a family mission statement?...How could we tweak it to be age-appropriate for her, too?  In some ways..."now" still doesn't feel like the right time yet...mostly because of Mya's age.  So, as I type this, a few things come to mind.  A few things I'd love to incorporate into our family mission statement (down the road).  Maybe these things would be included in yours, too.  Maybe not.  And, that's okay.

1.  Love like Jesus.  (Definitely difficult...but worth striving for.)
2.  Show compassion and empathy.
3.  Be willing to see things from someone else's perspective.
4.  Forgive.  Humble yourself to ask for forgiveness, too.
5.  Stand firm in your values.  Don't lower yourself for anyone else.
6.  Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone.  Challenge yourself.

Right now, Mya won't understand all of these statements.  Part of me wants to tweak them into kid-friendly language, so we can start our family mission now.  Maybe simple mission statements like love, be kind, listen, and obey.  But the other part of me doesn't want to rush into it entirely.  I want to know her thoughts...include them into our family mission statements...so she, too, can take ownership in what we value and strive for as a family.  I will give more thought into this and make it a discussion with Brandon.  Each family...and by family I mean nuclear family, extended family, single-parent family, individual, couple with or without children, etc...can sit down and determine their own unique mission.  Their own purpose.  Their focus.  

And one last thought...
I want our mission statement to become visible...to be written and seen...in our home.  A place where we can see them and be accountable to them.  A physical reminder.  (I feel a slight desire to devour Pinterest and find some really cool way of painting or stenciling these simple phrases onto a wooden pallet, piece of plywood, or something else really fresh and fun...focus, Kristen...stay focused.  Ha!)  

I'm curious.  What are your thoughts?  Did you grow up with a family mission statement?  Should it be just one sentence...or can it include several key points?  Is there a right or wrong way to establish one?  

Share your thoughts.