It has been quite a week. Last Monday our daughter from Colorado and her two children came to visit. They spent a few days with us and a few days with her sister in the DFW Metroplex. Then last Friday we celebrated my bride’s birthday by all driving to her hometown in West Texas. Our oldest daughter was going to meet us there, but she woke up with a fever on Friday. On Saturday we attended our niece’s wedding and saw most of that side of the family. We drove back to our house and got in late Saturday night. Then, after in home worship with my two daughters and four of my grandchildren on Sunday, Cheryl and I drove down to Dallas to be with my siblings at my sister’s house to celebrate my mother’s 89^th birthday.  (My girls and grands were too wiped out to join us.)  A lot of celebrating!

We have a few more days with Leah, Bethany, Malachi (8), Iris (5), Simon (4) and Micah (2) before they all head home. I’ve been giving our “littles” rides on a barrel train I made for them this spring, put up a new tree swing, and tomorrow I’m going to set up a water slide down our hill behind the house. As I understand it, it is my job as Papa to spoil my grandchildren a bit.

It is not all good times and a peaceful house when we all get together. There are tantrums and tears and short fuses. And that is true of the children, too. It can get a bit tense at times. But the moms and grandparents try to offer correction and discipline in a spirit of love.

Family has always been very important to me. I don’t always agree with what others in my family have done, and I know they could say the same about me, but I still love them and care about them. We still manage to get together and share our lives with each other. That is the way it should be.

That same principle is important in the household of faith, the family of God.

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

We will have disagreements. We will not always approve of that others are doing. But we are in the same family. We need to remember that when we address disagreements.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

And we need to make sure we spend time with our family.

Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Rev. Terry Dittmer, who worked for years in Youth Ministry for our denomination, wrote a wonderful song about the relationship Christians should have with each other. It is called “Brothers and Sisters in Christ.”

Sing Alleluia! Amen! Let your prayers and praises ascend.
Lift up your voices and sing To our Lord God, our Savior and King!
Here brought together by grace  We are gathered as friends in this place

CHORUS:
And assembled as one in the name of the Son,
Lifting hearts, lifting hands, celebrating as friends.
And proclaiming the Lord, all our praises afford.
We are brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Man walked alone and in need, Without faith, hope or promise or creed;
Wandering, aimlessly lost, unaware of the staggering cost;
That God in His mercy would save All His people from death and the grave  Chorus

Lord teach us how to proclaim All your goodness your love and your name;
Lord teach us how to forgive And in loved, teach us Lord, how to live.
Raising our voices in song, Help us tell all the world we belong. Chorus