Family Ties

My sister, Beverly is big on family.  Throughout her house, there is the word “family” either on her wall or on a plaque that is positioned somewhere that can be clearly seen.    She models the wife and mother of Proverbs 31.  “Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it…Her children respect and bless her” (MSG) I am proud to be her brother and have witnessed her remarkable ability to love unconditionally and walk endlessly to ensure her family is ok through the good and bad times.

Family must be a place that is safe and free from hurts and heartache.  Just because we are family, doesn’t give anyone the right to be demeaning and disrespectful.  Mother Teresa said it best, “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”   When a family sees each other as a gift from God and the uniqueness each one brings to the home, then and only then does it because a true sanctuary of peace and kindness and love and joy and laughter and patience and a bottomless bowl of grace. 

 
One of the best places to see God’s intent for the family is found in Ephesians 5&6.  I’ve heard it said many times that the husband is the superior of the home and everyone else falls into their proper places.  The Apostle Paul did not intend for there to be an inferiority in the home.  Looking closely at what was being taught, Paul gave some specifics in the way we treat each other.  Wives submit to your husbands.  The submission is not one of inferiority, rather of love and respect.  Paul told the husbands to love their wives.  Love is demonstrated by seeking out the best in the wife you vowed to honor and cherish and be there in sickness and in health until death.  To the children Paul said to obey your parents.  Obeying simply means to honor the wishes of your parents.  Godly parents will never order something done that will harm you or cause you to be disobedient to God. 

There must not be anything or anyone that comes between the family.  Walt Disney said, “A man should never neglect his family for business.”   It has been said, “a family who plays together, stays together” or “a family who prays together, stays together.”  The best times for families are vacations and ballgames and concerts and dance recitals and county fairs and camping trips and collecting lighting bugs and eating dinner and praying and praising Jesus and helping a stranger and giving food to a hungry person and visiting the nursing home and reading the bible and sharing Jesus and hugging and holding hands and saying, I love you.

Maya Angelou said it well when she said “I sustain myself with the love of family.”  Being sustained by the love of a family is a comfort that will take away the fear of loneliness and replace it with a peace knowing I’m loved and someone is there for me.  It will also take away depression and replace it with joy and hope. 

Family is a gift.  Never take it for granted.  Love unconditionally and never allow yourself to be so upset with your siblings, parents or other relatives that you stop talking to them.  If this is you, pick up the phone and mend your relationship.  One day, they will not be around to laugh with or hug or simply sit on the front porch and chat for hours. 

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian