“You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.”

― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird 

I have heard several variations on this theme over the years.  Most of them imply that you can’t do anything about it, so you might as well tolerate family.

Desmond Tutu has been credited with saying, “You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” I think that is closer to what God says.

• Husbands love your wives - Ephesians 5:2

• Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath - Ephesians 6:4

• If any man does not take care of his family, he is worse than an infidel - 1 Timothy 5:8

• Husbands live with your wife with understanding 1 Peter 3:7

• Wives be in submission to your own husband – 1 Peter 3:1

• Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one – Psalms 133:1

• Wives respect your husband – Ephesians 5:33

• If any man hates his brother, the love of God is not in him - 1 John 4:20

• Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar - 1 John 4:20

• Here in shall they know you are my disciple, if you love one another – John 13:35

• Honor your father and mother - Exodus 20:12, Matthew 19:19, Ephesians 6:1-2

• Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children – Proverbs 17:6

•  Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him – Psalms 127:3-5

• A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity – Proverbs 17:17

• A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother – Proverbs 10:1

• Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you – Colossians 3:13

• Train the young women to love their husbands and children – Titus 2:4

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Family – Love them! It is a simple choice.