Family

My granddaughter, Selah, sometimes, acts like a storm, but she is family. That may sound funny to you, but she doesn’t look like Lizzy and I. She has long dark hair and hazel eyes. She didn’t start out as family. When she was born, I knew that she was precious, but she was a stranger, and it would take a while for her personality to develop. Now, at four-years  old, she has a strong personality. She is strong-willed, quick witted, and kind. She has won a place in my heart and our family.

Open our eyes to opportunities to spread kindness…

Eating Peaches

One of the best things about living in the guest house, on my daughter’s property, is spending time, getting to know Selah and the other grandkids. We get regular visits from Selah, like early yesterday morning. I heard a knock on the door, but before I could open it, she was gone. Actually, she was walking around the house trying to find another way in.

Once inside, she made herself at home, sitting at the kitchen table, while I cooked breakfast. When she saw me opening a container of peaches, she let me know that they were her favorite. I found another container and opened it for her. Next, she told me what she liked best about peaches… the juice. As we sat eating, she told me a lot more. She loves to talk. 

Four-year-old Conversations

My conversations with Selah seem way older than appropriate for a four-year-old. When I said the prayer for our food, she corrected me. Rather than saying, “Thank you for this food,” she suggested saying “Thank you God for everything.” This way I wouldn’t leave anything out. I suggested that we play a game by taking turns naming some of the things for which we are thankful. This went on much longer than I expected. She was thankful for the earth, the grass, the dirt, and even our dog, Pansy. Selah had quite a long list.

Yes, Selah has won a place in my heart and in our family.

Family is a blessing, because, gathered with the people we love and the God who holds our days in his hands, we can discover that we are rich beyond the material possessions of this world. As I think about this, I am hit with the reality that this is true for the family of God as well.

Growing Our Family

We know, however, when our Lord gave us the greatest commandment, he followed it up with the second, which was to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is easy to show kindness to our family, but God desires that we do that which is more difficult… love all of those he puts in our path… even those who are not like us.

Kindness is an important fruit of the Spirit. If the spirt of God lives within us, we will want to share his kindness with others, even those not in our family.

It should be our prayer for God to open our eyes to opportunities to spread kindness and grow the family of faith. We should start with our own families, but we must look beyond our doors… to people that may not look like us… to people who may start out as strangers, and it might take some time to get used to their personalities and culture. However, our heavenly father loves them and so should and can we.

“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established…” 

—Proverbs 24:3

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear