Well we are making our post Christmas rounds to Dayton, to Cleveland, and then back again to Old Fort for the new year. It is interesting to spend this much time with family that you don't normally see day to day. It's so good to see my folks, brother, sister and their familes. I enjoy visiting with Erin's family as well. It always amazes me that we uncover so many issues that people in our families are dealing with...all of the struggles, pain, miscommunication, assumptions, hurt feelings,broken relationships. There is always something going on and it varies from person to person and relationship to relationship. My extended family is no different. Just goes to so you that when you think you are the only one messed up all you have to do is visit your family to realize that you are not alone. Though we do not all struggle with the same issues we all have struggles.
The one constant I've always found is love. If you can start there you can usually overcome any struggle you have with someone. The hardest part is having open communication and honest dialogue. I find it so easy to just avoid certain issues and to ignore other things that bother me only to watch those things fester over time until the explosion happens. There are always the things that one of your relatives does that nobody ever addresses yet on the way home you always tallk about it with your spouse...snickering together or just shaking your heads at their behavior. It is hard to hear the truth from family. It is hard confronting and taking the time to walk through tough conversations. It just seems easier to ignore those things and let them lie. Only problem is they don't. They are right there to be built upon the next time you visit and now it is worse.
My encouragement to you is to realize the importance and significance of communication in a loving, gracelfull way. We spend so much time thinking about how our other family members should change and adjust when we are the ones that have plenty of work to do in our own lives. I bet most of our family looks at us the same way we snickeringly look at them. We look at one another's issues from across the room thinkng the other has more work to do. The next time you visit make sure you do some work in your own life and pray for the other person and watch what God can do. Sprinkle in some effective heartfelt communication and no telling how far your relationships can go. I know my family has a lot of work to do. How about yours? Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor
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