Family Unity

We returned home safely...just barely...from our wonderful Richmond weekend with our beloved son, Matt, and his wonderful wife, Karissa. We had one mishap on the long, late drive home.  We hit a huge white box in the middle of the highway. It made a loud bump, a somewhat jarring swerve, but nothing on the car or in the car was hurt. Amazing. It reminded me of how blessed we are; how gracious of God to grant us a little more time on earth. Use it wisely! It also reminded me how we can be sailing along, smoothly and easily, and in the blink of an eye, our world can be shattered. Life requires diligence, effort, paying attention, and laser beam focus on the rightness of the path we have chosen. It is always important to keep first things first: God, family, the fallen world who needs His light.

It was the first Christmas that my children have hosted us for a Christmas celebration. They made us feel wonderfully special. They fed us great food, played wonderful games with us, showed us fantastic sights in Richmond, and took us to a really hip and spirit-filled church. All that, delightful as it was, was gravy. The best part, the real feast, was simply being in their presence, being able to gaze upon their precious faces.

There is nothing more important on earth than family. Those who would seek to destroy family unity are working on Satan's behalf. The family is one of God's strong defenses against the powers of darkness. From the first few chapters in Genesis, the importance of a man and wife and their children in coming together to worship and honor God is stressed. Woe to anyone who thinks that separating a family is healthy or honoring to God. Verse after verse in the Bible offers guidance to the unity and strength of the family, with a clear warning to each member of the critical importance for them to fulfill their role.

I remember many times when a disgruntled student in one of my art classes, or in one of the groups I managed, would complain about his mom or dad. I know the nature of kids to balk at the rules of their parents, and to exaggerate and moan about how hard life is under their parents' authority. I also know that the parent of that child is given the responsibility to raise him before God, not me. I would remind him to praise God he has a mom or dad...many children do not. Then I would remind him to praise God doubly that he has a mom and dad who care enough about him to have rules and strict guidance even at the risk of his displeasure. I was always very careful not to play into the terrible disservice to his family by undermining the authority and good intentions of his parents. Only parents who care deeply about their children bother to risk raising them in a way that is true to their convictions before God even when it upsets their children. One hopes that in the end, it will reap great reward.

I know God is watching. I am glad we hit the big white box on the highway, and that we survived unscathed. My first thought after realizing we would live was how much I love my family. That big bump in the road shook me up. Being shaken is a good thing, especially if it directs us back to God, who is the one in control anyway.
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1 Timothy 5:8 

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Ephesians 6:1-4 

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Joshua 24:15 

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”