A couple of days ago, Melissa – one of our CCA authors – shared the story of her son’s arrival into her family and ended with the words ‘Every child is a gift from God – no matter how they come into a family.’

I really appreciated her words, especially as I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the definition of family lately. I think in the western Christian mind-set we have an idealistic definition that puts the Mum, Dad and Biological (well behaved) children up on a pedestal. That is the example that fits with our favourite passages from Ephesians, Deuteronomy and elsewhere. It is probably also something similar to what God had in mind before the fall. But this side of the fall life is very different. We struggle and groan and yet God’s never failing grace continues to be proclaimed. One very important arena for this is the family – a family that may not match the blueprint.

Who’s in your family?

Take for example, the family where mum gives birth to a son. Her husband is not the biological father and yet takes on full responsibility for this child under his care. He protects, he seeks God’s wisdom, he loves, teaches, encourages and trains this boy into manhood.

Or the story of the immigrant widow who remarries for practical reasons, rather than love. When her first child, a son is born she gifts the care of him to the mother of her previous husband.

Or the birth mother who loved her son most dearly, and yet he was raised by a different family altogether, contact visits occurring only once a year.

Or the boy raised by his mother and grandmother, no mention of a father in sight. He is trained by them from an early age to love the Lord. And when he is fully grown he determines to live his life for the gospel, under the father-ship of godly men from the church.

Adoption, extended-blended families, foster care and single parents. All of these stories are of families committed to living according to God’s kingdom and because of this, grace continues to defy all other expectations. Families, as used by God to display his character, seem to be more about belonging, commitment and love than their statistical make up.

For a mum like myself myself, one with both biological and foster children who relies heavily on the support of my extended family, I find this particularly encouraging. Especially when I’m reminded that all the examples given above are taken straight from the Bible. Did you recognise them all?

I hope you and your family, however God put you together, have a beautiful day!

Penny