"What do you want to be when you grow up?” You might recall being asked that question as a child. Your ability to dream big and cast vision seemed limitless as a kid, right? But, perhaps somewhere along the way, your vision got shorter, more confined to the present and the responsibilities of life and needs of your family.
But, what if you were to ask yourself and your family, “What do we want to be when we grow up?”. If limits didn’t exist and your faith grew to the size of your impossible God, what would you dare to imagine for and with your family? What vision would you cast? That’s what the family vision questions we’ve included below are meant to spark. These vision conversation starters will help you and your family begin to discover your family vision (and one that requires God to help you see it through).
A vision statement sounds cute in theory, but it’s not meant to be something you write down. It’s meant to serve as the picture of the future you are moving toward together. Defined, a family vision is the ideal future state that defines what success looks like for your family. It shapes your decisions, your rhythms, and the way you relate to one another.
And a strong, God-centered vision should be I.D.E.A.:
A true vision statement isn’t something you manufacture. It reflects what only God can do in and through your family. It’s not built in isolation either, but rather through intentional and regular conversations with your family that create accountability and keep you dreaming.
If you’re new to this, you can walk through a simple step-by-step guide to creating your family vision here.
While talking about family vision can happen at any time, the key is intentionality. One way to get everyone dreaming together is to have a family vision night. Pick a date to gather and spend time praying together and discussing what you see for your family, your home, and even for future generations.
Some great times to plan for a vision night are:
Consistency and conversations carry vision forward and make it tangible. But, you need to meet and talk first. To kick off the conversation, here are some family vision questions.
Use these family vision questions to uncover what matters most and where your family is headed.
As you talk, look for patterns in shared desires, repeated themes, and the things that everyone gets most excited about. From there, begin shaping a vision that is:
Remember to think about I.D.E.A. as you talk through the questions. If your vision feels completely manageable on your own, it may not be a vision, it may just be another goal. Follow these how-to’s in creating your family’s vision statement if you need help revamping your vision or writing it for the first time. Remember to keep the conversations going and review your vision as a family often.
Vision isn’t built in one night. It’s an ambitious effort that requires God’s help and is lived out over a long time. Your family was created for so much more than simply making it through each week. It was designed by God to walk out purpose and mission so that, by faith, you would be a testimony of what God can do through you.
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To fully develop the inspired vision for your family, explore The 7 Generation Family Legacy Study that will help you define your vision, mission, and values for both now, and generations to come.