Our Family

                                            Our Family

Eileen Renders

In this world of imperfection, longings, losses, and needs, we are often abandoned by the very children we accepted, loved, and raised.  This is indeed often felt like an undeserved punishment. When we are feeling this way, we might ask ourselves; “Did God deserve the physical, emotional, and spiritual punishment He received from His children?” Of course not, He created us out of love.

How then must we accept and view our desertion? We must attempt to reconcile with our children, regardless of how we have been hurt. And if they reject our attempts to love them and receive love in return, we can only tell them that we will always love them and move forward with our lives. In our faith and our churches, many have love to give, a need to be accepted, and an appreciation for those who love God with their whole heart and soul.

When we are rejected by a parent, a spouse, or an adult child, it can be very painful. Yet, we may have to accept this rejection and move forward with our lives. There is pain in rejection and isolation, and we may even feel we are just not worthy of a family. God sent those people into our lives, and it was a gift from God. Yet free will allows us to either accept or reject.

Spending too much time admonishing ourselves, or others for not sharing our need to have them in our lives puts us into a state of negativity, anger, and more. It also takes us away from the love of God who stands before us with open arms.

A Traditional Scope of Family would include mom and dad, and children of these parents. In a broader scenario, the family also includes aunts, uncles, cousins, and also grandparents.

The New Testament goes even further to include “Believers” as part of God’s spiritual family. Through faith, we are adopted into God’s family. God becomes our Father, and Jesus is our Brother.

This spiritual family transcends ethnicity, gender, and social standing. It is a unity that reflects God’s love for humanity.

In conclusion, we are taught that our family has both biological and spiritual connections. And this proves how God’s involvement equalizes relationships and transcends diversity as we become united in Christ.