INSPIRASUNS

I’m guessing I’m like most people in that as I’ve grown older my relationship with my parents and my siblings has changed. My parents have been gone for more than 20 years, but even in those few years before they passed away my relationship with them changed. I confided in them more, grew closer to them, and talked with them about things that I didn’t when I was younger. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss my mom and dad and I hold close to knowing there will be a day when we are together again.

My relationship with my siblings has also changed as we have all grown older. I’m pretty sure this happens in most families, but last night I was thinking about it, maybe because my brother has been sick recently. I remember those days when we were kids and my brothers would pick on me. The pranks they would play, the fibs they would tell to try and get me to do silly stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I was the baby and they were always there to protect me, I never doubted that. However, there were many a time that I was used as the practice kid. My brother would come home from wrestling practice and want to show me the latest move he’d learned, ya great.

Then there were the teenage years, for them anyway. There is an eight-year difference between me and the next brother. So they were on their way to dating and hanging out with friends, which left me behind. It’s not unusual of course, however along with that change comes the feeling of losing the relationship.

Then as we all grew into adults, we had our own families and didn’t talk as much. The oldest brother was in the military so that was even harder as he and his family traveled around the world.

We’re at a point in our lives now though where we have reconnected more deeply. Both of my siblings are retired now, and even though I live 1200 miles away we communicate more than we did when we lived 20 minutes from each other. Yesterday, my brother sent me a picture of the sunrise with a note, “It will be a good today with a sunrise like this”. Well given his recent health issues, every day is a good day 🙂 . This morning he sent a few more to me, saying he hoped I liked them. Do you know what I like, I like that he is making time to watch the sunrise, one of Father’s best gifts.

As I’ve thought about my relationship with family, of course, I can’t help but think about how my relationship with Father has changed over the years. When I was young, I was so close to Him. In my pre-teens, I read my Bible daily, was involved in a little church, and was so connected to him. Through my teens and early adulthood, I lost my way and actually was very alone. My fault, not His of course. Then, after marrying my husband, started back into rebuilding my relationship with God. Today, I like to think that I’m closer to Him than I’ve ever been. I talk with Him multiple times a day, thank Him immeasurably when watching a sunrise or sunset, and offer myself to him when I need strength, love, or forgiveness.

Yes, my friends, our families change as we grow. I realize that sometimes they don’t change for the best. However, there is always an opportunity to change that as well. There is always an opportunity to forgive, to heal, and to come together. Father provides that opportunity every day, it’s up to us to accept it. Father forgives us always and asks us to do the same for those who hurt us, whether they are family or not.

As I reflect on the changes in my family, I thank Father for bringing us through. I thank Father for the chance to grow closer than we’ve ever been. And…I thank Father for being there through it all.

Have a great day friends, may it be filled with opportunities to be with your family!

p.s. Thanks to my brother Michael for the beautiful sunrise phone from the heartland yesterday morning 🙂

1 John 3:18
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.