Family

The day after Thanksgiving, "Family" seems a very appropriate topic to blog about. I know that holidays bring about time with family. Many dread the holiday for days leading up to the event. Some anticipate what could happen at the gathering. Often based on prior events so the anticipation is often correct. Others avoid the event by being physically present, but mentally or emotionally absent. While yet a few don't participate in the family holiday at all.

What is it about gathering with our families that can cause such anxiety? Is it our expectations? Is it others expectations of us that we have failed to meet? Is it lack of relationships with these people that we are supposed to be connected with in some form or fashion? Is it the elephant in the room that no one is willing to talk about?

As I have thought over this topic during the last few days, I came to a conclusion. Our families, individually, are very much like God's family, collectively. We are all individuals with only one true thing in common. In our individual families, it is that we happened to be born or adopted into a particular group of people. You may have other bonds like: similar physical features, common interest, or you may all live in the same town. But you are family for only one real reason and you love each other because of that reason. I've even heard of people not particularly liking their family members,but stilling loving them because the are family.

God's family is much the same way. It is made up of all kinds of people. Some of them with common interest and goals; some with absolutely nothing in common except for the one REAL reason. The real reason being their acceptance of Jesus Christ as God's one and only son who died for the redemption of their sins.

Heaven is going to be one BIG family gathering with all of the family members present. If there is some reason that we don't enjoy family gatherings here on earth, we might need to take time to figure out why. There will be people in heaven that we have one and only one thing in common with and that is going to be enough.

Before Christmas comes, let's ponder what it is about the family gatherings that make us uncomfortable. Then see if we can't choose to approach the next family gathering with excitement. The excitement of those who are gathering with God's children.