Week 2-Family Systems

Have you ever thought about the family in terms of systems? Or how there are boundaries around all the relationships in your family? I know that such a thing had never crossed my mind until we talked about it in class. But once you start thinking about it, it really makes sense.
    There are the 3 types of boundaries
1. A picket fence boundary- This is open and friendly and where we want out relationships to be.
2. The Rigid Wall- Keep everything out or everything in.
3. Fence post (Diffuse) Boundaries- Things that should stay in, don't.
There are meant to be boundaries to every relationship and hopefully we all have the nice picket fence. But unfortunately we know that not all families are perfect, like we wish, and we know there are different relationships that need to be worked on. Some may be harder than others but they take work and families are the  most important thing we have on this earth, along with the gospel, so that means we HAVE to get to work to improve them.
    I like the analogy of a family standing in a circle holding hands and when one person is falling back or has weight on them, the rest of the family feels it and braces for it. When someone in your family is going through something hard, it is our duty to pick them up and help carry the weight of the burden they have. So the family will make an adjustment like in a circle holding hands, everyone adjusts to the weight of one.
   Elder Paul E. Koelliker said in his April 2012 General Conference talk, "The Father's plan designated the pattern of the family to help us learn, apply, and understand the power of love." We have such a good opportunity to learn from the members of our family, to try to understand the many things this world throws at us, and we can do it together.