Family

"If we really believe that God has reserved people for himself from every tribe, language, people and nation and has commissioned us to go and look for them, then they aren't just some people out there, they are kinfolk that are lost. But the Father has set his love on them and has allowed us the privilege of being in on the search and rescue mission. So, to make Christ's kingdom visible we who already trust Christ must show up, believing that we have lost relatives all over the world." Tim Barton, Sr

Today is Mother's Day. My youngest child is sick and so am I. I was saddened to see her sad. Then she seemed to bounce back fairly quick and I feel even worse then earlier! Maybe she's better because I was able to use my "mommy superpower" to make her better. You know the one - when you can kiss or snuggle with a kid and it seems to make everything better! After laying in bed with me for 30 minutes she seemed to perk up and get close to her normal self again, though periodically through the day she would fuss again.

I thought about family, how we all want them to be there for us in good times and bad. How we can be sad when they are gone. How we can feel lost even when they are in the same room with us. Mother's Day and other holidays remind us that we are human. Things don't always go the way we hope. Since the fall we are constantly bombarded by disappointments from others and ourselves. Life can be overwhelmingly difficult at times. It can be frustrating. We must keep in mind what we are here on this earth for. As I laid in bed I thought of my future when this world is over. As a Christian, no matter what happens on earth I can focus on the joy that awaits - the end of illness, suffering, disappointments, sin, shame, tears, etc. It can often be frustrating waiting for that time to come!

Then I was reminded of this quote from the presbyterian church of america's 50 days of prayer guide. This particular quote came from Tim Barton, Sr - a pastor in Utah. It is easy to get caught up in our lives and the struggles we are going through. It can be hard enough going through each day living how we believe God wants us to when we are facing difficult circumstances. We can forget about those around us who aren't just struggling, but haven't yet learned of God's forgiveness and love. Our family isn't just those in the home we were raised with and those we live with now. Somehow, we need to take the time to go out where we are and find our long lost family members and bring them home. Sometimes we'll be called to leave our current city and travel to another part of the world to share what we know, to love the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, the sick...If our kids or loved ones are sick we long to help them. We want to ease their suffering. We will try many different remedies to help them. Family is more then flesh and blood. Some of us know what it is like to belong in a family because we were treated with the concern and love that God designed families for. Others of us only know what a family should be like because we know what a family should not be like.

There are people out there, lost and hurting - confused and sick - blind and dying. They are a part of the family. We must look past our shortcomings and successes and go look for the lost sheep like the shepherd. We are called to help others, to love others, to be Jesus to them even if it hurts...

(Edited: A few months after this post I spent 4 months in a domestic violence shelter. My definition of family has gotten smaller and broader at the same time.)