My mom and dad sold everything and moved to Panama two weeks ago. Not bad for and year olds. Free-spirited adventurers, they decided to nestle into an ex-pat community for their last whahhooo. I grew up thinking that living in Appalachia, spearing lobsters while living on a sailboat, and rehanging bikinis in your parents surfshop—all by the age of 9—was normal. So what if I never learned to play kickball. But in just a few days families will gather round tables and talk and share and bicker and reminiscence.
My parents in Panama. Us in Utah. Because they are being embraced by an ex-pat family of friends. And we will celebrate together another year. Plus, we have family, here, too.
We share no DNA. These precious saints have taken us in. Because sometimes our definition of family is too narrow. We think of family in terms of bloodline, heritage, last name. But the New Testament reminds us the ultimate family is the family of God. Families may include biological children, foster children, adopted children, or those who are childless.
Yes, you may need to read that twice. Families are defined by those who fling open the doors of their hearts, the doors of their lives.
As we approach Thanksgiving, Advent , and Christmas, my hope and prayer is that you will fling open yourself to compassion like never before. My hunch is that those are people and lives—including your own—where God may be at work the most. Or your copies today and spread the Christmas joy. Good morning and Blessings! You took me back to when we moved to Ft Wayne with our 3 children who had never been away from family.
