My wife\u2019s family gathered this weekend for the funeral of my wife\u2019s sister-in-law. It was the first time my wife\u2019s family had this many family members together in one place in seven years. As each person arrived, the room lit up with greetings, hugs, and laughter. We all recognized the weight of the moment; while knowing we were blessed with family to support and walk through this valley of the shadow of death together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our transient, busy culture, family gatherings seem to be more difficult. They require a lot of planning and intentionality. They require us to intentionally slow down our normal life schedule to put an emphasis on being together. God has placed us in families. God works within the family. God brings healing within the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jesus shined new light on the family unit when in Mark 3:33-35 we read, \u201c\u2019Who are my mother and my brothers?\u2019 he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, \u2018Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God\u2019s will is my brother and sister and mother.\u2019\u201d Jesus moved us beyond the family unit where we were raised to the place of the family where our hearts are united in love for God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During this season of Thanksgiving, I give God thanks for the families of which I am a part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We recognize families are dynamic relationships with issues. We are thankful for all our families. It is easy to take for granted the gift our families can be in our lives. I give God thanks and look forward to each opportunity to be together during this holiday season. We pray for unity in our families and for fear, anxiety, and disagreement to no longer have control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can we show our thankfulness to our families this holiday season? Are we daily thanking God for the family units active in our lives each day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prayer: Lord, thank you for placing me in a family. We are thankful for each family for which we are part. Bring unity in our homes; in our family relationships; and in our churches that we might find healing and wholeness in our family this holiday season. In Jesus\u2019 name. Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My wife\u2019s family gathered this weekend for the funeral of my wife\u2019s sister-in-law. It was the first time my wife\u2019s family had this many family members together in one place in seven years. As each person arrived, the room lit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6376,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t