This past weekend I flew to California to visit my parents. Because my oldest brother (seven years older than me) and his wife live about 15 minutes away from my parents, they came to visit for a bit on each day. We enjoyed delicious meals, reminisced about growing up, played games, and lingered together. Although my brother who is four years older than me was not able to make the drive from southern CA to northern CA for the visit due to prior commitments, I knew he was present in heart. I thank God for my siblings.
Siblings – Two or more children having one or both parents in common; a brother or sister.
Over the years, communication with my brothers has ebbed and flowed with life and its responsibilities. We live in different cities, engage a variety of hobbies, work in different industries, and walk out our faith in Jesus uniquely. Our seasons of life have not always synced, and at times our opinions and ideas conflict. Nevertheless, we endeavor to remain connected through phone calls and the occasional visit. We may not talk often, but when we connect, our conversations pick up where we left off from the previous talk. Our love for one another remains constant (Ephesians 4:2).
Do you have a sibling? What efforts do you take to connect with your brother(s) and/or sister(s)?
My oldest brother and I picked up a hot drink on Saturday morning and caught up on life. It felt great to connect. We talked about life with grandkids, transitions with work, the ways we experience God, and our means of availability to help our mom and dad. Both of my brothers show tenderness and attention to the care of our parents (Proverbs 17:6). I feel grateful to God for family and the gift of journeying through life together, even from a distance.
Take a moment to thank God for your family.
When I consider my siblings, I thank God. We live differently. Each of us have adult children, many of whom have their own families. Our kids are different and live differently. Yet, together we unite as family. We look out for each other and love one another as bearers of the image of God. We endeavor to honor and respect differences and celebrate areas of alignment. Our family is a beautiful mess of individuals seeking God and loving each other. We don’t do this perfectly, but we make this our aim (Joshua 24:15).
How well do you love the differences in your family? What might be ways to honor the uniqueness of each person? In what ways does viewing family as fellow image bearers impact your approach towards them?
I wonder about some of the siblings we read about in the Bible: Jacob and Esau; Joseph and his brothers; James and John; Peter and Andrew; and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. These relationships looked different for a variety of reasons. Some experienced strife like Jacob and Esau as well as Joseph and his brothers. Others worked together like Peter and Andrew. Some demonstrated similar temperaments like James and John. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus show a depth of love amongst themselves. These familial relationships reveal the messiness of thoroughly imperfect families through betrayal, forgiveness, camaraderie, and protection. The family offers a place for transformation and flourishing (Psalm 128).
Take a moment to thank God for the messy beauty of your family. Thank God for the imperfections of your siblings, as well as of yourself. Thank God for the ways your family contributes to your transformation in Christ.
Born to Mary and Joseph, Jesus lived in a family on earth. When I think about His family, I smile. Jesus had siblings. I imagine times of play, disagreement, and camaraderie. Family is God’s design. Because we live in a broken world, family is not only beautiful, but also messy. Jesus empowers us to honor His printed image upon each family member. Through Christ we love the family given us by God and endeavor to exhibit the love of God to one another (Genesis 1:28, Psalm 133:1, John 13:34).
How can you love your family this week? Take a step towards authentic connection with family members. Tell your siblings that you love them.
This week – – –
Reflect. In what ways has the brokenness of this world brought discord between you and your family? Confess to God attitudes of judgment, pride, anger, etc. that cause breakdown between you and your siblings and/or parents. Receive God’s grace to love family well through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Request. Pray for your family members, both nuclear and extended, by name. Ask God the Father, to fill you with love for each of them as fellow image-bearers of God.
Receive. Receive God’s love for you as part of the family of God. He claims you as His. 1 John 3:1 – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Relished God’s tender care of you and your family. Be held by the Lord.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Genesis 1:26-27 – Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
John 1:12-13 – Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Gary Moreland. Family Shaped by Grace. Ada, Michigan. 2017.
Justin Whitmel Earley. Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. Grand Rapids, MI. 2021.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Rhett Walker. Family is Family. Click here to watch & listen.
Marian Morning. Bless My Family. Click here to watch and listen.
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
April 11 – LIttleton, CO – Colorado Community Church, Prayer Ministry
April 24-May 3 – Lviv, Ukraine – Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary, The Care of Souls. upfmissions.org
May 18-22 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
May 31-June 13 – Quarryville, PA – Black Rock Retreat, Summer Camp Staff Training
July 6-10 – Littleton, CO – Denver Seminary, Certificate in Spiritual Direction Cohort
July 13-21 – Kigali, Rwanda – Soul Care Retreat and Training, Life Link Rwanda