Growing Together With Purpose in 2025
Have you ever paused to think about the legacy your family is building? Your family is like a tree – rooted in your values, shaped by your environment, strengthened by your attitude, and stretched toward your dreams. But thriving and winning as a family doesn’t happen by chance. It takes intentional effort, commitment and love.
Years ago, I created the G.O.A.L.S. Family Tree framework out of my own frustration and need to bring greater focus to my family life. I found myself chasing so many “important” things that I was losing sight of what mattered most. I needed a simple, visual tool to help me stay on track. One day, as I stood in my backyard gazing at a massive live oak tree, inspiration struck. The visual I was looking for was right in front of me.
Over the years, I’ve shared this framework with hundreds of parents, and it has proven to be an effective guide for growing a healthy, purposeful family. Here’s how it works.
Roots: Growth
The roots of your family tree represent your foundation – the values and habits that anchor you. A strong family grows together in five areas: physical, relational, financial, spiritual and intellectual. Without healthy roots, your family will struggle to weather life’s storms.
Steps to Strengthen Your Roots:
1. Invest in Growth: Develop habits that nurture each area, like praying together, going on regular date nights, exercising as a family, or having open financial discussions.
2. Be Intentional: Schedule weekly activities that promote connection, such as family walks, shared meals or learning something new together.
Imagine this: What if your family prayed together daily? Challenges wouldn’t go away, but the faith and strength you build would give you resilience to stand firm through any storm.
Soil: Environment
Healthy things grow. The soil is the environment your family grows in. It can nourish or hinder your growth. Fertile soil – cultivated through love, connection and encouragement – promotes growth, while weeds like distractions, negativity and unhealthy habits sabotage progress.
Cultivate a Healthy Environment:
• Nurture the Good: Identify positive habits, like family traditions or open communication, and amplify them.
• Remove the Weeds: Address negative influences, like excessive screen time, toxic friendships or unresolved conflicts, and work together to resolve them.
Example: Make mealtimes a “no-phone zone” to encourage meaningful conversations. When distractions are eliminated, you will be amazed at how laughter and deeper connections will emerge.
Trunk: Attitude
The trunk of your family tree symbolizes your collective attitude. A strong trunk reflects positivity, gratitude and resilience, while negativity weakens your foundation.
Build a Strong Trunk:
1. Practice Gratitude: Start a family gratitude journal or a “Thankfulness Jar” where everyone adds a daily note of appreciation.
2. Reframe Challenges: Teach your family to view obstacles as opportunities for growth.
Picture this: A family facing financial difficulties chooses to focus on what they have instead of what they lack. Their circumstances don’t change overnight, but their gratitude and unity grow, making them stronger than before.
Branches: Long-Term Goals
Branches represent your family’s long-term goals and the legacy you’re building. Without clear goals, your family may drift. But when you dream and plan together, you’ll grow in the direction you want to go.
Reach Toward Big Dreams:
• Dream Together: Create a vision board for your family’s goals, like saving for a vacation, paying off debt, or serving your community.
• Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge progress along the way. It builds confidence and momentum.
Think about this: A family sets a goal to serve their community or church monthly. Over time, they not only meet their goal, they deepen their bond and create a legacy of compassion that makes an impact on others.
Leaves & Fruit: Short-Term Goals
The leaves and fruit of your tree are the visible signs of growth. Short-term goals provide nourishment and momentum as you work toward your long-term dreams.
Achieve Short-Term Wins:
1. Set Weekly Goals: Hold family check-ins to discuss and track small, actionable steps.
2. Celebrate Often: Reward achievements with family movie nights, outings or special treats.
Picture this: A family sets a goal to declutter their home, tackling one room at a time. In a month, the house feels lighter, and their teamwork has grown stronger.
Your Family Legacy Starts Today
Building a thriving family doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a daily commitment to planting deep roots, cultivating a healthy environment, and stretching toward meaningful goals.
What kind of tree do you want your family to be in 2025? One with deep roots, strong branches and fruit that blesses others? It starts with one habit, one goal, and one step at a time.
Plant your tree, water it with love, and watch it grow. Your family’s future is worth it. The legacy starts today.
Rodney Gage is a family coach, podcaster, author, speaker, and the founding pastor of ReThink Life Church, which meets at Lake Nona High School. His passion is to help families win at home and in life. To learn more about how you can get a copy of his new book called Why Your Kids Do What They Do, go to www.thewinningfamily.com or ReThinkLife.com.
