Family

 

 

They say, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Is that family? It’s family in kind perhaps, but not in spirit. It’s family out of necessity even, but not a loving cushion against the world’s harsh realm. No, thousands of blackbirds flocking together are no family. Just being a group of a kind who stick together for mutual benefit doesn’t make it family. Being a part of the Geese’s “V” in the late fall, when the leaf colours begin to change, doesn’t make you part of the family. If one were to fall or tire, and drop from the sky, the flock would not stop to aid, the rest would not carry him through. None would mourn that one’s death, but instead, they would simply fly on, as though nothing had happened. No, family is more than being together, and its more then just a social collection.

 

Family is knit in love, and broken by nothing. It is gained by gift, and given forever. No matter what the effort, one is always family. Though they live in a different home, or fly with a different flock, when it comes to who you are, you are still a member of your family. Some by birth, some by adoption, some by vow, but all in the gift of love and forgiveness, received in that eternal bond that never breaks, family.

Family are the ones you want there when it means the most. Family share “popping the question” and family see the vows exchanged. Family rejoice in excitement at the announcement, and then anxiously await the climax of birth. Family are there to help when we recover. It’s family who celebrate birthdays, and anniversaries, and magnificent accomplishments. We want family to be proud, and we want them to see our best, through really, to family, that’s not really what’s important. Families are constantly trying to reunite, to somehow gain the good given from our last great meeting. It’s our family that we would labour all day to give a half hour meal. It’s our family that we would labour our life away for, and deny ourselves for, so that they can enjoy some good of our labours.

We trust family when we are at our weakest, and when we are most in need; it’s family we can call. When disease attacks, it’s family that toils late in the night in prayer, and works without reward to see that nothing is lost for that shaken one. Family stands by in the darkest times, and in the most perilous of hours.

There is always family to call, if a tire goes flat, or a cheque bounces. It’s family we think of first, when bomb siren rings, or the earth shakes, or the storms devour the land. Tragedy only strengthens our resolve and fortifies our wills. We will not be torn apart no matter what comes, no matter how bad, no matter the circumstances, be it life or death.

We know we will never go hungry, if we are so humble as to ask our family. We know, as long as we have family, we have a safety net if we should fail. We also know, there is always someone who needs our help. There is always a channel to be unselfish, to give, and to show our love from within.

It hurts to lose family. When one is gone for a time, it nags constantly of worry and doubt. When one is gone forever, mourning wrings the tears without notice or schedule, when smile or charm passes briefly within our memory. So much love given, so much time spent, and so many memories shared; was that all lost with the losing? What is the worth, if we eventually fade and leave, and part ways in death? The truth, family is meant to be forever, not just for life.

 

Death is a thief easily caught. He is a foe already conquered. We need not part forever, from our family. God did not make family so that we are missed when we’re gone, but rather to remind us that we should seek to meet again. Eternity is but a step away for us all, a lesson often restated in remembering those we miss.

God would give you family forever, His family, the same way we have given others our family. The same way we accepted those, to whom we’ve decided to love, and made them as blood, and took them for ours forever, God would vow to you today. He gave His Son on the cross to give you and your family an eternal reunion. Don’t miss it.

Receive His forgiveness and love today, in His gift of eternal life. Become a part of His family, and enjoy the goodness of family that is forever.

  

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – 1 John 5:12

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: - 1 John 3:1