The theme of family struck me recently as I was attending a dance recital of a friend of mine that I have gotten to know through work, who in addition, is a dance instructor. We don’t work in the same building or even in the same city but communicate daily via email each day.
If I asked you to define “family” I would think your first response would probably be “those people near and dear to you that are blood related.”
To an extent that is obviously true but I believe there is an even deeper definition to the term “family.” Especially in today’s society with familes often living far from grandparents and extended families, finding “family” is so important.
In a google search for other definitions of family, I thought this one was perfect, from the Milton Hershey School website. An alumni, shared this thought:
“I’ve learned over the years that what defines family is not solely blood relation. Family consists of the people who support and love you, and the people you can confide in and trust.” https://www.mhskids.org/student-tatiana/true-meaning-family
Is your definition of “family” in your life those that….
I know in chatting with this friend that she agrees that the dance teachers and even the students do consider each other family. This was also evident in the slide shows of the graduationg seniors they showed at the recital. They would agree that they all support, love, confide in and trust each other.
Some of the Donna Frech Dance School “Family” with their awards at a recent competition
What are some other possible examples of family?
—Some people in your work place or department
—Any sport team, competitive or even recreational, that you are a part of
—The community you live in
—The mentors in your life
—The church community you worship with
—The support group you belong to
—The soup kitchen crew you work with weekly or monthly
—The musical organization you participate in
—The special friends you’ve bonded with via social media
—The small group or ministry you meet with weekly
—The circle of friends from school
Shortly after my husband and I got married, we did try to reach out to other couples from church that were our age to get together for food and fellowship; to be “family” to a few of them that did not have family in the area. It was also nice when we started having families of our own around the same time too. I believe we tried to support each other.
Before long though most of the families moved away~~we began to wonder if it was us! (just kidding!) Life became busier as our family grew so it was harder to find new people to get together with and the time as well.
With my youngest son who is the most outgoing of my children, it is amazing to me to see the “family” he is a part of because of participating in baseball at a big indoor facility in the winter and then outside the summer. We actually have come to call the one guy who coaches a younger team my son’s “adopted dad” because he loves and cares for my son as his own blood son.
My son and I attended this guy’s team championship game the other day. It was so heartwarming for me to see a few parents come up to my son to wish him well in college and the future. The one day when my son was not with me at a game, a couple of parents came up to me and asked about my son~I had never even met them before! What a special family–people supporting and loving my son!
Think about Jesus’ short life on this earth. I believe the 12 disciples were “family” to Jesus! They were a community that supported, loved, confided in and trusted each other. Recall that even Jesus’ blood family didn’t listen to Him or think He was the Messiah. Recall how much Jesus loved Lazarus, I believe “family” to Him~~Jesus even wept when He learned he had died.
This week may I encourage you to take a few minutes to reflect on what “family” means to you.
Feel free to share in the comment section below to bless and encourage others to maybe see a new way of family.
Isn’t life brighter for you and others when you are family to others? Doesn’t it make you think less of yourself?
I think it is as simple as encouraging a friend who is having a bad day or asking someone how you can pray for them. This past week I was blessed to get a text and email from two different people saying I was their biggest cheerleader. Receiving a text from a person I have never met letting me know a coworkers surgery went well made me smile; she knew I really cared and hoped it went well. For me, they all represent “family.”
You know what? It is actually being church to others! How awesome is that to think about? That is what we are called to be–church to one another!
May I encourage you to not just GO to church, but see how you can BE the church!
A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. –Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. –Hebrews 3:12-13 (NIV)
Respect your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” –Matthew 19:19 (GNT)
