It's all about Family!

Hubert and Janet wanted to do something special for Christmas this year. They put together a family trip that we are sure to remember for quite a long time. Thursday morning we all met at their house for breakfast. Then we boarded a chartered tour bus bound for Atlanta and the brand new Aquarium there. Traveling together in the big bus was one best parts of the trip. We sang and read and shared some wonderfule time together as a family.

Another interesting thing as that our bus driver, Tom, (pictured above) became part of our family yesterday, even if it was just for a short time. He learned a few thing about us, and we were privileged to learn some of his story. Tom's mother had died when he was just six years old and his grandmother raised him. If remember right, it was and uncle that became "the man in his life." This man was the father figure who tried to steer Tom in the right direction. As a child he attended church regularly. They went all day on Sundays and to Wednesday prayer meetings too! However, when Tom became a man, he quit attending regularly. He became very involved in making a living and providing for his family. Finally after retiring, he and his wife re-committed themselves to regular church attendane, but what is even more important is that Tom renewed his relationship with Christ. The heart attack, from which he recovered, added to a clear understanding that God has something special for him. He has communicated to his kids a regret that he did not keep them in church through the years. He quit smoking and drinking, even though he was never a drunk only a social drinker. He has a strong desire to see his church grow and has invested in its future. Also he has a passion to help the less fortunate. He has seen so very many homeless through his experience driving through the big cities.

Jeffrey was with me when Tom shared with us, and as we got off the bus at the end of the day, he stopped and hugged Tom. In the house last night, my eight-year-old son, Jeffrey said to me, "Daddy I hugged him because Tom is our brother in Christ." Wow, it happened, didn't it! We left Thursday morning with a hired bus-driver, but our brother, Tom, drove us home.

This year you will probably get together with family during the holidays. In fact that's how Christmas really began. These familiar words from Luke 2:4 remind us of the centrality of faimily:

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee
to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged
to the house and line of David.

The reason Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem was because of family. That's where his family was from! While many of us will similarly find ourselves traveling to see family during the Christmas season, others will find that they are part of a larger family than they ever could have imagined. Keep your eyes and hearts open. Who knows; you may find the joy of family too!

As Paul wrote to the people at Ephesus in Ephesians 2:19:

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners.
You are citizens along with all of God's holy people.
You are members of God's family.

This Christmas let's celebrate belonging to His family. Have a blessed day.