Movement is synonymous with life. Living things, especially humans, move from one point or location to another for various reasons. As individuals, we move from one place to another, and so also are homes/families moving from one location to another that may, on many occasions, have different cultures. To blend well into a different country, individuals and families need to be able to adapt through the processes of acculturation and assimilation to grow and make progress.
In this segment of the Selah series, we shall go through why the processes of acculturation and assimilation (simply referred to as adaptation in this piece) are essential, areas where we may need to adapt, and factors that can enhance our adaptation. We will also discuss why we must be selective in our choice of new ways of life.
Individuals and families have always moved from one location or country to another. Although the direction of movement is mostly from underdeveloped countries to developing or developed ones, there are, however, individuals and homes that move from developed to developing countries. There are various reasons why people move. These may include economic, academic and security reasons.
It is worthy of mention here that as Christians, whatever plan we may have about our lives and homes, we must get a go-ahead from God, as He is interested in every detail of our lives. 2 Samuel 2:1 emphasises this point, wherein David had to ask God the specific town in Judah that God wanted him to go. Let us always be humble and patient enough to ask Him for details about our lives; our success depend on this.
Adaptation is needed in nearly all aspects of life, especially in a transplanted home, be it our choice of food, clothing or family dynamics. Our adaptation will impact our progress, health, family dynamics and all other aspects of life we can think of. I will, however, focus on a few aspects. The first aspect concerns husbands and is about being able to do house chores traditionally seen as women’s roles. Chores may appear unimportant but can cause issues in the homes and other attendant consequences.
The second aspect is financial planning. I have observed that a lot of financial intelligence and planning is needed for any family to succeed in a foreign land, especially in the Western world. Don’t buy by impulse. Always draw up monthly or yearly budgets and ensure you and your family have insurance covers, especially those not obligatory by law.
The third aspect is being familiar with and compliant with the laws of the land. In many Western countries, merely asking your ward to go to the naughty corner is prohibited by law. I know this may be very alien to a family from an African setting, for example, but the law must still be obeyed. Each family should find what works for them and within the ambits of the law.
Finally, you must get used to being alone and learn to spend time with your family. It is crucial to state that adaptation to a new environment is a function of time. However, asking questions and guidance from people, learning from other families, formal and informal education, etc., can help our homes to navigate the curve.
Having listed a few ways of life that transplanted families may learn in their new locations, it is essential to state clearly that ways of life that contradict the word of God must be vehemently rejected while we hold on to our Bible-based values regardless of our locations (Leviticus 18: 3). Let us stand up for Jesus even in the face of persecution, train up our children in the way of the Lord and be conscious of this truth - irrespective of where we live, we are still sojourners, we will return to our Maker someday.
Pastor Tope Omisore
©️ SELAH SERIES 2023
