Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
–Proverbs 31:28-29
When I married for the second time, we called ourselves the Brady Bunch.
I had three girls and my wife had two boys and a girl. Having six children under the age of nine was a fulltime job for my wife. I worked long hours, sometimes seven days a week to provide for our family. My wife was a blessing to all our children. She still is!
I appreciated how my wife’s family was open and loving to both my children and me. We fit in with them and never looked back. We got to know the grandparents, inviting them to Christmas dinner and exchanging gifts.
We always told all six of our children they had every right to love all their parents. We never spoke negatively about the parents who weren’t a regular part of their lives. We also never used the title “step-parent.” Our kids are “our kids.”
It wasn’t always easy, but thanks to God’s loving spirit, being respectful of our past and creating an open relationship with our extended family has rubbed off on our children, who all grew into respectable adults.
We are all a part of God’s family. If we let Him, He will find a way to grow His kingdom, blending our loved ones into one big heavenly family.
Prayer
Dear God, Thank You for being anywhere two or three are gathered together in Your name. Please bless my blended and extended family. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Reflection
What blessings do I crave for my family? How can my relationship with God help inform my relationship with others?