A Sunday with Family

The nature of ministry is such that I've missed a lot of family gatherings.  They are usually on Saturday nights --  I turn into a pumpkin on Saturday nights.  Also, I live some distance from my family, so if special events are on the weekends, it just doesn't work. 

At this stage in my ministry, I'm fortunate to have two wonderful colleagues on the Glebe-St. James ministry team.  Although my major responsibility is worship, I was able to arrange to go to a family wedding, and Anne and George were able to lead worship.

This meant that I was able to be with my family and see my niece married.  It's hard to describe how important family is to me.  I have five sisters and three brothers.  I was able to see all five sisters and one of my brothers.  Two brothers weren't able to attend. 

I think I spent the whole weekend talking and asking about my sisters' families. (My brother is a bachelor with no children.)  My Mom and Dad were also there and I just don't know what it is, but I always feel more myself when I'm with them.  It's like the "real" me has a chance to shine and I feel safe and secure. This weekend was a great way to recharge my batteries because it's not all about the church and plans for the future. Being with family is about the here and now, being present and accounted for. 

I didn't always love everyone in my family.  There were always lots of mixed emotions -- childhood fights, teenage misunderstandings, adult hurts.  At certain times, I didn't real care to be with them all that much.  But now, as I grow older and see all my nieces and nephews growing up, the depth of my love gets stronger all the time. 

This is the most amazing gift and one learns to appreciate it more and more.  I think it's good to be away from the parish sometimes so that one can get a perspective on these most important things in life.  It's not that faith and the church aren't important, it's just that it's also important to re-connect with the people in your life who have been with you from the earliest days of memory. 

There's always something happening in a big family.  My niece is on an agricultural exchange in Columbia.  My other niece is on the verge of having her second child.  My son is getting married in May and another niece is being married in October.  James and I both celebrate our 50th birthdays this year AND our 25th wedding anniversary.  One niece has just been accepted into a nursing program.  One nephew has decided to become a paramedic. And the list goes on and on....

Faith teaches us that our families are important -- all the connections that bind us together help to form us.  God gave us these families and they teach us how to treat everyone as we would treat family.