As
I get older and my health isn't what it used to be, (although I haven’t given
up hope and still work on it) I have come to realize, we all have 2 families. If
we are lucky one is good, if we are blessed both the spiritual and natural
family are good.
The
first family that comes to mind is our natural family, mother, father, brothers,
sisters, etc… Most of you know my family
history, or likely do so from my book The Keystone Kid and/or other writings. While
I had some difficult times in my life, I have come to appreciate more and more
my blood family. I love my sisters my half sister Teresa whom I have spent
little time with and my full-blooded sister, Andrea (Sissy) whom I grew up
with. Growing up in the same household Sis and I experienced many of the same
things. I admire her for her courage and sticktoitnuss, God used her in a mighty
way to bring me into His family. I love my sister and wish we lived closer. There
are others in my family I miss. While I am having some health issues as I write
this, I spoke with my Uncle Larry last night. He was checking up on me and asked
how I am doing, I responded, “as well as can be expected, but I am keeping my
spirits up trying to find ways to make people laugh and enjoy life, I am after
all a Furches.” I was moved by his
concern, because, he is family. I could write a great deal about how much I
love my family, whether they realize it or not. I am healing and the more God
provides healing, the more I am learning to love.
There
is another kind of family, one where Jesus brings people together. The Bible
speaks often and eloquently about the Family of God, brothers, sisters, babes,
and so forth. We see an emphasis on the community of believers, from the Lord’s
Prayer, where Jesus instructs us to say, OUR Father, deliver US, give US OUR,
and so forth. Then there is a passage some find troubling, Matthew 12: 46-50:
(46)
While Jesus was still speaking to the
crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside because they wanted to
talk with him. (47) Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing
outside and want to talk with you.”
(48)
Jesus answered, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” (49) Then he
pointed to his disciples and said, “These are my mother and my brothers! (50)
Anyone who obeys my Father in heaven is my brother or sister or mother.”
While
the above passage can be troubling, I don’t think Jesus is saying forget about,
ignore, or having nothing to do with your blood family, he is saying your
family is more than your blood relatives, it includes all of those who are a
part of the Kingdom of God who have surrendered to His Son, Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately
in today’s world we live in a place that focuses on individualism. Don’t take me wrong, to discover ones gifts,
talents, to love one’s self, etc…, is important, but one of the ways we
discover self is by loving others, to be a part of the group or community. We
are to share in life, care for each other, see to it that no one has a need. We
are to be there and love each other. Unfortunately, this concept has been lost,
many of us don’t even know our next door neighbors, those we call brother and
sister. If we don’t know each other, how can we be a family?
I
have learned the importance of my spiritual brothers and sisters. Much of that
comes from living away from my blood family for most of my life. I hate it but
it is a part of the call of ministry. I go where God leads, not where I want. I
have been blessed to have many brothers and sisters. While I enjoy keeping up
with many of them via social media and meeting new ones, nothing replaces the
hands on experience, a hug, a holy kiss, a love that family understands, a communion
where we commune in life, not just a ceremony of breaking bread and drinking
wine.
God
has compelled me see to it that the ministry I am involved in experiences what
the Greek calls, Koinonia, or Family and Community, where all things are
shared. I believe it is what God would
have for his people. While there are times to be alone, there are also times to
share in life, even to help each other out through our problems. Many make the
excuse to not share in life with a body of believers, for years I was in that
boat but the more I study scripture, the more I realize how unbiblical that
belief is. I joy because I share in life; I have blood family I love and others
via spiritual family via faith in Jesus Christ.
Lastly,
I have a son I deeply love. Nathan is adopted and I love him just as I love my
daughter by birth. I have learned of the ability to love and the value of
coming into a family via adoption, that is what the Kingdom of God is, people who
have been adopted into the Family of God. I would challenge, enjoy this family
to the fullest, if in a good church, experience community in shared life, stay
for the pot-lucks, and develop relationships where you want to be with that
family. When you aren't and you find yourself missing those special moments,
maybe, just maybe, God wants more, and that more is community.
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