“We are family, I got all my sisters with me!”

My sisters and I dance to this song by Sister Sledge at every family wedding! We dance with enthusiasm and joy in our hearts knowing that God has made us sisters and has made us family even though we have gone through a lot of the good, the bad, and the ugly! Every family does! But we dance because we know that God has made us family and we are sisters and we live this life doing the best we can to set an example for him and be at peace!

“For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.“                                                                             Psalm 122:8

This topic may draw you in and make you want to read more. It may also, make you want to push the delete button!  In either case it is bound to stir up emotions, positive and negative. We all have them, families that is. They come in all shapes, sizes and varieties. And no matter how good, bad, or ugly the make-up of our family is, there are both good and bad feelings that go along with them.

There are a few places in the bible where the word FAMILY is used.  

In the Old Testament it is primarily used in the classical dictionary definition of a unit of people. A group of people that are biologically connected to each other. In the traditional sense, they are blood related and dwelling together.

“a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered a group or unit, that dwells together and is blood related.”  Traditional Family

The scriptures we find about family in the Old Testament are all defined by this “traditional definition.”

“This is the account of the FAMILY line of Esau.”                    Genesis 36:1

“In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families; of Seraiah’s family, Mariah, of Jeremiah’s Hannah…”                                            Nehemiah 12:12

“Their genealogical record listed the heads of families and 20,200 fighting men.“                                                                                                  I Chronicles 7:9

Now that we have the definition down, let’s look at the point that our families present us with the “good, the bad and the ugly!”

I am going to go out on a limb here, and possibly isolate myself from some of you, when I say; I believe that is exactly the way God intended it to be! Why? Because God makes families! And through our families we experience the good, the bad, and the ugly as we live life together! We choose our friends, but God choses our families!

In the beginning when God created us, He made us to be families!

“This is the written account of Adam’s FAMILY line; When God created mankind, He made them in the likeness of God.”                                            Genesis 5:1

We were created by God, to be like God and to be FAMILY!

It is not always easy, but we are challenged, molded, sharpened and strengthened, if we allow ourselves to be! I know that not all of our families are healthy and positive. But, I do believe that even out of the negative aspects of family, God does His great healing and transforming work. If we allow Him to!

We all bring our strengths and weaknesses to the FAMILY. If we allow God to strengthen our weaknesses through those in our family, and heal wounds that only He can heal, then our strengths will be heightened and we will be more like the person He created us to be!

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

God created us with a desire and need for community. Yes, friends are important and our family of believers is essential! But to neglect God’s created purpose for biological family is wrong. 

Today is May 14th, my sister Krissy’s birthday! This day reminds me that I am blessed by her and her tender, loving, giving heart! She is 10 and a half years younger than I am! She is a baby in my eyes! God brought her into my life when I was just old enough to realize that things with my mom and dad were not good. I did not understand the depth of all of it at the time. But, I do know that my heart was troubled, unsettled and sad. Then Krissy was born! She was pure love and goodness! She was tender and gave love freely! She still does!

God blessed me with her 48 years ago, and she continues to be my baby Sis, to this day! She loves BIG, and I am so thankful for her in my life!

She was my third sister. She rounded all of us out perfectly. Each one of my sister’s plays a vital role in my life, and they strengthen and sharpen me and help me be the person God has created me to be! I thank God for giving them to me! Alongside them come their husbands and children and grandchildren. As our FAMILY grows and increases, my life is richer and stronger. Sure, we have as many ups as we have downs, but we are FAMILY, and I truly do, “have all my sisters with me!”

TRUTH BOMB

God makes us FAMILY to help make us who He wants us to be!

We need to do our part to love, honor and respect the family God made us a part of. The good, the bad, and the ugly of it. All of it is God-ordained and helps make us who God wants us to be!

Happy birthday baby Sis! You are a blessing and a gift from God! I love you and celebrate you!

Speak Truth Love