Being Family (06/03/2024)

What does one do with 20 different people ranging in age from 11 to 95? Set up chairs, prepare lots of food, and then get out of the way!  That pretty much describes my weekend. The family that started with just my husband, Kenneth, and I and that has grown to a band of 20 gathered to welcome and visit with my mother, my sister, my niece and two grandnieces. The food was great, but that wasn’t the point. The sound level rivaled that of a pop concert, but we didn’t let that deter us. We tried to focus instead on the joy of being together with a crowd whose bond is love.

We marveled at the differences within a family that shares the same gene pool, and we celebrated the marvelous beauty of such a patchwork design. We shared stories and swapped secrets. We all pitched in to help where we could, and we all showed up to enjoy the rewards of good food and great conversations. At the end of the day, the joy was still in my step as a I made my way to bed. Last night, I found it hard to express all that was in my heart, so I just opened my heart to the LORD and asked Him to “see for yourself.”

This morning as I reflect on the day, two images stand out: my mother sharing her stories and my older grandsons teaching the younger kids how to fish. Let me explain.

My mother’s story matters; it helps us to see into who we. I think of our story as children of the Almighty Father, as disciples of Christ, as temples of the Spirit. Are we telling our story to the younger generations? Are we sharing the scriptures that formed us as well as the history of how we got here with our all-present and all-loving LORD ever at our side?

My grandson’s fishing trip with the younger members of the family reminded me that we are called to share what we have been given, we are called to hand on the faith. We are called to journey with one another, to encourage one another, to share with others what we ourselves have been given.

This morning, as I put away the remaining vestiges of a family celebration, I pray that I don’t put away the lessons learned through my family.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.