| 1 Corinthians 13:4 – “Love suffers long and is kind.” |
Blood kin. We don’t choose them. Not our mother, father, siblings, even our own children. We may have decided to have a child, but God does the matching. Even some marriages are arranged. We choose our spouses, and even at that many don’t last.
I think family is how God wants us to learn how to love. It is not in our genes (knowing how to love). God had to show us how it is done. Adoption? Now that is a choice. One thing I have accepted as a truth about love? It is a decision, not a feeling. It is an action. Family can be tough to love. No doubt. And we haven’t even touched on in-laws. Doubly hard.
I am always touched to see brothers (siblings) who are good friends. It happens, but most of the time it is hard work. I love the scene of Jacob returning home and Esau comes to meet him. The last time they saw each other, Esau wanted to kill him. Or Joseph’s reuniting with his brothers in Egypt. His sobbing was heard for quite a distance. Love hurts. Love is hard. Love suffers long.
I am 68 and just now have learned what it FEELS like to suffer long. Father in heaven, thank You for choosing us even while we were enemies, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
-Jeff Beall
