Family

I just came back from a Family Reunion. It was great to see family members I have not seen in a while.  It is always good to talk about what is going on in each of our lives, laugh and have fun.  This family reunion was different for me because my mother was not there.  My mother passed in 2012 and this was the first reunion I have attended, since she died.  I know I missed her and I am pretty sure her siblings missed her too.  Despite missing my mother, I had a good time and I am glad I got to see my many of my family members.

I have found that family is very important to God.  He knows we need family to encourage us and help us navigate life.  Being a part of a family is a great blessing.  Sometimes, we take our family members for granted and we must remember we were born in our families for a reason.  Family members should love one another.  God’s word says we should love our neighbor just like we love ourselves (Mark 12:31).  This means we should love those we are in contact with, just like we love ourselves.

Family members sometimes have disagreements and differences of opinions, but we should not let these things stop us from loving one another.  We need to learn to disagree and still love each other.  No two people will always have the same opinion.  Many times, we let disagreements become the reason we no longer talk or commune with our family.  We let months and years pass by without talking to them.  Then if they pass before we are reconciled, we feel guilty because we let a disagreement tear us apart.

Sometimes, we get stuck in the past and we cannot let things go.  God does not want us to be stuck in our past.  He wants us to be all that he created us to be.  We let the enemy come in our families and destroy them from the inside out.  We should remember he came to steal, kill and destroy and he does not want us to have families that love each other and know how to work through our issues together (John10:10).  The next time you have a disagreement with a family member, be quick to resolve the issue and not let it be months before you talk to one another.  The bible tells us to not let the sun go down on our anger (Ephesians 4:26).  When we let anger to go unchecked it can turn into bitterness and cause other issues in our life.  We are supposed to be quick to forgive one another and not allow anger and bitterness to set up in our hearts.  Out of the heart pours the issues of life and when you are bitter about something it has a way of showing up in other areas of your life (Proverbs 4:23).

God wants us to live life to its fullness.  He wants us to enjoy life.  Anger, hurt and pain stops us from enjoying life to its fullness.  Today let go of past mistakes and start living life like each day is our last.  Start forgiving each person that has hurt you today.  Let it go and start today being all that God called you to be.  Yes, it can be hard to forgive those who have hurt you, but forgiveness is for you.  God does not want us to walk around carrying a whole lot of baggage from our past.  His word tells us to cast our cares upon his shoulders, because he cares for us.  Today give every problem in your life to God and let him work it out for your good.  Let him show you how to love your family and friends.

Family is important.  We were not created to be all alone, we need one another.  My family has played an integral part in who I am today.  They helped my mother raise me and I learned a lot of things about life from them.  I thank God for being a member of my family.

 

 

This is my family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LSW