"..For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is my brother, sister, and mother."- Matt 12:46-50
I am one that knows the meaning of true family, as I was blessed to be raised in the midst of one. Now, as the steps of my life have moved along, I have found the man given by the hand of God: the man that makes me whole, and we have recently started our own "true family." In May 2009, our daughter Lilia Joy was born into this world and into my heart, and the seams are about to burst because of the love that only grows. At this point, we are now expecting twin boys, who are now adding to that bursting seam of love. There are no words to describe the way these three "additions to our family" have changed our hearts, and feelings that come about when love starts to leak from around those seams! There is no vessel large enough to contain it. And.. in a way...
...This is how it is with our God, and with His "true family." He looks down from above, and with love, draws people to become His own, and to pour their hearts out to Him, like only family can. I have seen a picture of this in my daughter's love. Her Daddy and I are the ones she reaches for when she is hurting; the ones she runs to when she is excited and "laughing and squealing;" the first to see that little face light up in the morning; the first to receive kisses and wiggles of excitement; and the ones that take the biggest place in her little heart, the place just under her Lord. Jesus said that His true family are those who obey Him, those who love Him, and those who choose to give their hearts to Him, and to nothing less. We all have been guilty of giving our hearts, our days, our moments, to things less than our Savior, and He stands alone looking on, with tears in His eyes. He says, "How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and ye would not." A true family implies "closeness." Let us consider that as we gather at our Savior's feet.
True family begins with a husband and wife, and their open, honest love for each other. It cannot be considered true or right when each goes his/her own way, and leaves no care or thought for the other. This is also a picture of what our God (our Husband in Heaven) wants of His bride and family (the church)—an intimate closeness that never dies, that doesn't run away when the hardships arise. This relationship is about communication and communion, both in natural life, and with our God. Let us consider this also, as we gather at our Savior's feet. All of these words are to call us to consider, to allow our hearts to open up to the One who calls us "family." There is no greater meaning of life, than to stand in the middle of His family circle, and know the feeling and ways of the Highest Love of all. "...Suffer the little children to come unto me... and He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Mk 10:14,16
~ Kara Heather Frantz
