Family as friends

As Collin and Emma get older, I find myself adoring the friendship they have together. And even more so, praying they will always be friends. For some reason, it is sometimes difficult to view our family as friends. There is always that one person, or two or three, that just drive us nuts! (Tell me I'm not alone here...you have that person in your family too, right?!) But the older I get, the more I value my family and see the huge importance God places on family. And not just the family as a unit, but each individual, unique person within that family.

Psalm 127:1a,3-5 says " Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

To me, this passage clearly shows that God places people within families. For one reason or another, He determines that each person, with their unique personality, gifts and talents, will work best with the other people in the family. And each person is a treasure. A unique gift that carries infinite value to God and those within the family (and outside of the family, too, but I'm focusing on family right now).

Our family's can, and should be, our biggest allies. That means we need to value our brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, parents as more than just family, but as friends, too. People we can grow with, experience life with, pray with, cry with, laugh with, etc. I fully recognize that not everybody has a good home life or family, but we can all pray for our families. That's the best way we can love our family, as brothers and friends.

So, let's put the value back in our family....as friends and brothers. Let's love them like Christ loves us. Let's pray for them always. Let's be there for our family. Let's grow with our family. Let's laugh and cry with our family. Let's be family.

Until next time,
Kristal