Taking a break
Over the past week my wife and I were on a country break. It was great to have a change in location for a few days and to visit sights that we saw when on our honeymoon. It was my 79th birthday on one of those days and that’s when I really appreciated having other family members and friends at the same holiday location. In all there were nineteen of us on the same holiday. We certainly didn’t have that many on our honeymoon.
What made my birthday seem really special was having so many people singing happy birthday to me in such a genuine way. I also received gifts from relatives of my son-in-law, which was not something that I had expected or felt that I deserved. It made me appreciate how good people could be and how important it was to stay in touch with family members and friends.
2 Corinthians 9:7 – Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The influence of others
When I saw how thoughtful they all were I couldn’t help but think about my own failings in life. It’s funny how our psychology works. We automatically compare our own attitudes and behaviour with others when they demonstrate the better sides of their character. It makes us strive to be better versions of ourselves. Maybe that’s our guilt but it does happen when you are truly focussed on religious belief.
Proverbs 13:20 – Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Being kind and considerate
As I have said before we all understand deep within ourselves what is good and what is bad. We all want people to treat us in a kind and considerate manner. That’s what I received on my birthday and it made me think about the importance of family. Actually, that kindness is what I receive all the time from members of my family. It’s just that it was my birthday and that made it especially memorable.
A cohesive family
It’s good therefore, to reflect on how, in a cohesive family, members stay loyal to one another. They forgive us our faults and failings and offer comfort and support. A family is a great institution when its members are focussed on the well-being of each other.
A family is a group of people who are together because they have something in common. The same parents or relatives, the same interests or the same outlook on life. There are many different types of family but they all have one thing in common. They are made up of different people having a close connection with one another. Unfortunately, there are some families that do not have harmonious relationships. They simply tolerate one another, which is not a great way to live.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.
Colossians 3:14 – And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The binding agent of most families is love. As I noted in my blog titled, “Why it can be difficult to change” we find it difficult to change from what is familiar. When we live together we become like-minded. We understand one another and become more accepting and tolerant. That’s one of the great things about the institution of marriage but only where we allow the process of merging together to take place. If we are only focussed on self-interest that merging will not occur.
Genesis 2:24 – Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
God’s family
One type of family is the family of God. We refer to God as the Father and like any father He is loving and cares for his children. Often the Bible refers to God as like a shepherd caring for his flock.
Psalm 23.1-2 – A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
1 John 3:1 – See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Acts 2:44 – And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Taking others for granted
We tend to take others for granted when they do things for us on a regular basis. It’s only human to be that way and it happens in all families. We are creatures of habit and become used to our environment and lifestyle. That can make us demanding and intolerant when things don’t go our way.
The problem is that we can then overlook things that really ought to be done or things that ought to be changed. Just a simple expression of appreciation can mean so much. Or a change in the way we react to different situations can make us much better people.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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