Family

I grew up in a family with four other siblings. My parents taught us about Jesus, and we were connected to the little church in our community. We did things together. We worked the garden together. We all had chores to complete. I developed a tremendous work ethic without knowing it was even happening. My parents taught us the value of work.  When I grew up and left home, I realized the tremendous value of family. I met others whose family was way different than mine.

As I started a family of my own, I learned that my kids were watching me, and they were doing what they saw me doing. I remember hearing a quote that said, “Values are caught more than they are taught”.  If I wanted my kids to have my values, I must live out my values in front of them. I don’t always get this right for sure, but I want them to see my love for Jesus. I want them to see my faith lived out every day. I was reminded of the value of family in Psalms this morning. Check this out…

³ Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
⁴ Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
⁵ How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! (Psalm 127:3-5a NLT)

A few years ago, I started what I now refer to as a “Gratitude Snooze”. When my clock goes off in the morning, I get up and hit the snooze button. I then lay back down and start thanking the Lord for His blessings upon me. I always start with the lady beside me and my children. I am blessed beyond words and profoundly grateful for my beautiful family.  As I get outside my immediate family, I do have family members who have made different choices over the years. There are family members whose values have shifted from what I believe is the truth of God’s Word. They are still family even though I don’t want to walk where they are walking. Even though I profoundly disagree with their life choices, they are family.

Our church is like an extension of my family. I’ve learned so much from others on this journey of faith.

My work family is also an extension of my family. They have my back and I have their back.

When we see others like family, we see them differently. The more time I spend with church family and work family, the deeper my trust in them grows. I guess my family is much larger than just my immediate family. There are friends and coworkers that are my brothers and sisters for sure. God wired us all for relationships and deep relationships are a blessing beyond words. God designed family to be a place to grow and thrive as human beings.

Pressing On!

Dwayne