We had our Family Reunion this year. It was wonderful; it wasn't so much about what we did for me; it was about what I saw. You need to know that I had prayed for this group of people for many months and others had too. In fact, my cousin and I were believing God for a spiritual reunion. It did happen, but not the way that I thought.
Days before the reunion, the regrets began to pour in. This person could not come and that person couldn't come. One by one; people were bowing out. I remembered the words of my dear friend Ruth (a mighty prayer warrior), who always says: "God will have who He wants to be there." Those words of wisdom have given me great comfort since I entertain a lot.
I decided to stand in faith for this reunion. Faith is what you can't see. Faith is what you don't know. Faith is what you haven't heard. Faith is required when you don't understand. I didn't know what was happening, so I gave it to God.
I asked myself what did I have to give to the many people who came. As a result of my prayer life, my prayers for the family that was coming, the teaching and instruction from the Word of God that had been imparted to me, I knew the answer without a second thought. Every thought for them, every action for them, every deed for them, every word for them would be motivated by and grounded in love.
Three days before the Reunion was scheduled to begin, the doorbell rang and rang and rang. Some of my family was here. They had come early. Oh Joy. (This site doesn't allow an exclamation mark or I'd have one. Smile.
NOW...
let's talk about what brought them here. That's the good part.
One of my cousins packed her family in a van and pressed her way here fighting a sinus headache. Another cousin traveled way across the country to Ohio where she picked up her mom and drove her here so that she could come too. One cousin flew south to help another cousin drive back. One cousin drove to another state and picked up her grandchildren and drove them here with her family. One cousin came a week early. One of my brothers drove from two states away and brought his son so that he could manage and coordinate many events. My nephew bought his plane ticket and came when it would have been much easier not to come. One cousin came at the last minute and was accommodated by her family who made great sacrifices to come. One cousin came two days early just so that our families could spend extra time together. I cannot cover every story but every story is a story of personal or financial sacrifice.
So you've heard the story of their sacrifices but you haven't heard about their love.
Most of the people came a long ways. They drove multiple hours in a hot season where gas prices are soaring. The angels prospered their way and so they came without incident.
It reminds me of Psalm 91 when it says:
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. (V.7)
By the day of the picnic; we had a great group of people and as we sat and gazed along the riverfront and looked on the beautiful blue waters; I looked around and realized with great pride that they had came for love. Love really can move mountains. In this family people love each other and like each other. It's a family legacy. My father taught it to us. God helped me maintain it. There are times when people can question their affections for family whether they admit it or not. I can say this: in this family everything is grounded in LOVE.
They came and they were a delight, they were charming, they brought smiles and words of kindness, God's grace was all over them; each of them. They brought love, they brought joy. I was able to see it; it was great. It truly was a spiritual Reunion.
I share this story to ask you all to pray for love in your family, pray for God's grace upon your family too. I encourage you to speak a Blessing over your family regularly; they deserve it.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
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