Feeling at Home in the Family of God

Eph. 2:19

The Bible says the church is about family, "brothers and sisters" in the "household of God." Here are some personal observations about what God means and a question. Is there any way we can provide this level of relationship without high commitment small groups of the sort Jesus modeled for His disciples?

To be family is to share deeply and openly.
 

It’s to disagree freely

and to fight with fervor

to guard each others secrets and weaknesses

with every ounce of strength.

To be family is to talk through the bathroom door.

 
Family noises that anywhere else would offend

but within a family are just part of the pulse of life.

It's calling your sister ugly, because maybe she is . . .

when she mopes about the house in curlers

popping the latest pimple.

But not standing still for anybody else calling her ugly.

And the guy she dresses up for

who walks out the front door with her . . .

basking in her beauty . . .

had better treat her right--because she’s family.

It’s lack of pretense

Openness . . .

yet sometimes playing games

and sometimes calling each other in the middle of the game.

Family means walking your little brother through the tough section of town

 
teaching him how to deal with bullies . . .

telling him about girls.
 

Reminding Mom she’s the best in all the world –

not because you can measure that sort of thing

or even compare one mother

with another
 

but because she moves heaven and earth for you

and no one could love you more!

To be family is to know that when dinner’s on, your seat

is the second one on the right . . .

. . . next to Dad

where you always sit.
 

Listening to one of the same old jokes
 

Dad’s been telling for years

but laughing anyway . . . because

it fits . . . familiar

like an old pair of Docksiders

you'll never throw away.

And when happiness happens—

it’s telling them first!

Their knowing looks

and proud smiles.

It’s family who don’t mind telling you you’re wrong—

when you’re wrong

no matter who others think you are.

It’s Christmas

Thanksgiving

Birthdays

Graduations.

It’s knowing you can turn to family when you’ve really failed . . .

and friends fade from your life.

Occasionally being family means moments of a soft, smooth silence

that only happen because you’ve talked

so much

and so well . . .

that a sense of acceptance fills your belly

like a cup of hot chocolate.

And if some day

you find yourself stripped of everything

but family . . .

through pain and loss you will know,

somehow . . . everything

will be alright.

Because, as it was in the beginning,

so it will be in the end.

Nothing means more

than family.

Info on David Goodman