Your job in the family is simple, right? Follow the rules, do what you are told and let the adults handle the “family stuff.”

But what if that is not how God sees it?

The truth is every member of the family matters, including you. As you get older, your effort, attitude and mindset play a real part in whether your home grows stronger or drifts apart. God did not just give your parents the tools to forge a strong, close family—He gave them to you as well.

The Bible talks about the power of working together. In Ecclesiastes 4, it states that two people are better than one (vs. 9). It is easy to see how this principle applies to parents working together to build a home. But then it adds something more: “a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (vs. 12).

Think of that extra strand as you. Your actions can make your entire family stronger—helping the home feel more connected and less stressful for everyone. And your siblings help strengthen the cord even more.

Here are three ways you can help make your family stronger.

(1) Step Up Physically

One of the quickest ways you can strengthen your family is simple: Help around the house.

Cleaning your room, washing the dishes, folding laundry, helping with meals…none of these seem huge on their own. But together, they make a big difference in how smoothly your home runs. When you handle what is yours—and even a few things that are not—you lift weight off your parents’ shoulders. You also set a good example for your siblings.

Here is how this looks in practice:

• Picking up after yourself without reminders
• Doing a job all the way instead of halfway
• Asking, “What can I do to help right now?”
• Jumping in when you see something that needs attention

These small acts say something important: you are choosing to make the home better. You are helping because you want to, not because someone hovered over you or forced you to do it.

Being helpful will build your parents’ trust, show them you are maturing and make you a stronger “cord” your whole family can depend on.

(2) Step Up in How You Treat Others

The way you act has a huge impact on the atmosphere of your home. Your words, your tone, your reactions—even your silence—can either calm things down or stir things up. A good attitude spreads just as quickly as a bad one.

Spending time with your family is crucial to strengthening relationships at home. This does not mean you always have to be engaged in deep conversations. Sometimes it is enough to sit in the same room, join the family for dinner, or ride in the car without disappearing into your headphones. These small moments of being with people matter more than you may think.

Start by putting down your phone when you are with your family. It sends a message: “You matter more than what is on my screen.” Leave your bedroom door open sometimes so you—and everyone else—feel a little more connected instead of shut off from each other.

Even just making eye contact and responding with more than one-word answers can change your home’s atmosphere for the better.

None of this means your family will suddenly be perfect. Everyone has stressful days. Everyone has disagreements. But strong families are not perfect families—they are families who keep showing up for each other.

Ask your parents how their days went. Support a sibling by attending their game or performance, even if you would rather stay home. Do a little of your homework at the kitchen table instead of alone in your room.

When you look for ways to connect instead of ways to avoid people, you send a message: “I care about this home, and I care about you.” This mindset builds peace, lowers stress and helps your family feel more like a team instead of just a group of people sharing the same address.

(3) Step Up in How You Follow God

Chores and spending quality time together help strengthen your family. But your spiritual focus can have an even greater impact.

Take the Sabbath for example. The whole family is together. The pace slows down. No one is rushing off to school or work. Your attitude on this day can help lift the entire household, and it is also a great opportunity to focus more on spiritual things. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Start with small gestures. Have conversations about what occurred during the week or a Bible passage you read. Suggest a wholesome documentary to watch or a piece of music to listen to. Aim to be pleasant and engaged instead of moping around waiting for sunset.

Other contributions include being punctual and dressed with care for services—shoes polished, tie straight and dress or shirt pressed—without needing reminders. Follow in your Bible during the messages, take careful notes and sing hymns with genuine effort. Jump in to serve by helping prepare food for the potluck or help with setup before and after services. These actions all contribute to the spiritual environment, and help the family as a whole to “remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8).

You can step up spiritually during the week too. Ask questions about things you heard in a sermon. Pray regularly. Open your Bible—read just a little each day. Small, consistent spiritual efforts will not only build you up, they will encourage the rest of your family as well.

It is easy to assume spiritual contributions are just for parents. But when you bring the right mindset, you help set the tone for the whole home.

A Stronger Family Starts with You

As a teen, every time you take initiative, offer help, choose to listen, or bring the right mindset to the Sabbath, you are strengthening your family. You are not just a passenger—you are part of the engine that helps power it.

The truth is, your family needs you. Not just someday in the future, but now.

Start with one step today—whether it is helping out, connecting with others or drawing closer to God. Show through your actions that you want your home to be a place of peace, support and strength.

Be that third cord. Be part of the strength that holds your family together.