Family

"Freedom from Want" by Norman Rockwell The Saturday Evening Post March 6, 1943

Last week I traveled with my wife and our son who still lives at home with us to Texas to spend time with our family. That bunch included our son who is away for college, our daughter and son-in-law who are also in college and far away, my parents, my sisters and my brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and more extended family. It was a great time of togetherness. Great food. Old, yet not stale, stories. Reconnections. Time well spent. In my Everyday Ordinary life, I am thankful for my family!

Family is a gift from God and, as with all such gifts, it is to be treated accordingly. In a world where many are obsessed with individuality, it is vitally important that family members value one another, support one another, and treat each other with respect.

For many people, this call to create and enjoy family unity will not be easy. Therefore, we do well to focus on an extremely helpful passage from the Bible.

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Galatians 5:22-23a (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When believers rely on the Holy Spirit, family unity is stronger. The power of love. The comfort of peace. The joy of forbearance. Hostility declawed with kindness. Bad blood cleansed with goodness. Betrayal replaced by faithfulness. Tender gentleness. Shocking self-control. These are the results of fruit at work in your family.

#ordinarylives