In addition to the many other pressures which face family life today, Christian families often struggle under the additional burden of an idealized view of family life to which they are encouraged to aspire. Not only is this a recipe for disaster, maintain the authors, it is also completely unfounded. Even a superficial study of Bible characters who are held up as models reveals that human relationships have always been complex. Recognizing this, the authors look at the way that clergy, pastors and counsellors can come to a more realistic understanding of what a family is and help those affected by dysfunction, relationship breakdown, remarriage, step-parenting, abuse within the family, childlessness, bereavement and much more.