The Blessing of Family

So we went to the beach on our family vacation and it rained every day. Not the pleasant little light afternoon showers, but pouring rain and thunderstorms. The kind where you’re able to finish 1,000 piece puzzles and watch exciting Olympic events like handball and equestrian. Who gets the medal, the rider or the horse?

I would like to know how some of these activities become Olympic sports. Maybe in 2016 they’ll decide to include foosball and darts and pool. Fishing could be an Olympic sport. So could checkers and cheerleading. How about fantasy baseball? And why not poker? I mean, who doesn’t enjoy watching a bunch of creepy looking characters sit around a table playing poker? But I digress.

And did you know that gas is about 40-50 cents higher in Illinois than in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida, and probably every other state in the union? Do you ever sense, as you pump your Illinois gas, that you’re helping pay some ritzy couple’s $7,500 a month rent in a swanky Lake Shore Drive high rise? Along with their yacht, their BMW and all the bling they can buy. Makes you feel like you’re making a real difference in the world.

But I’m not really complaining about going on vacation. Despite the rain and the gas prices we had a great time. There wasn’t a day we weren’t able to spend at least some time on the beach. We saw the sun occasionally, collected quite a few seashells, caught some waves and built fortified sand castles. And 30 hours round trip driving plus multiple bathroom and food stops wasn’t as bad as I thought it might be.

The best part, though, was simply spending time with my family. We’re back now. Back to work. Back to church activities. Back to football practice. Back to taking care of the dog. Back to cleaning house. Back to school next week. Back to real life. But it’s been nice to be together for a week without all these responsibilities. I didn’t even take my laptop along, nor did I miss it.

One of God’s greatest blessings to mankind is the family. Before He established nations, before the first king, before the invention of football and before shopping malls, God created the family. It wasn’t good for man to be alone. So God made a woman from Adam’s rib and brought her to him to be a perfect helper and companion, one who would be “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23).

And even though we sometimes take each other for granted, and even though we’re imperfect people who can be selfish, stubborn and stupid, we need each other. We were made for each other. We complement each other.

I am thankful for my wife. I can’t imagine where I’d be without her. We celebrated our 19^th anniversary last week. Not every day has been a walk in the park, but it’s been a joyous journey. In any marriage relationship there are good times and bad, but it’s for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health till death do us part. We are committed to one another in a bond of love, sealed with the love of Christ Jesus Himself.

And I’m grateful to the Lord for the blessing of children. We have two boys whom we love dearly. Yes, there are challenges all the time, and we haven’t yet reached teenage years. But our boys are a precious and delightful gift, and I thank God for giving us the joy and responsibility of raising them up in the way they should go.

I appreciate the church giving us some time for family vacation. But it’s also good to be back together with the family of God. Friend, if you’re looking for family, we welcome you to be part of ours at the First Baptist Church.