Family Perspecitve

This is a re-post from my husband's blog.  I thought it was really good, especially for families struggling with kids that don't want to be in the family God has chosen for them.  It really helped Jubilee get some perspective on why she needs to like us, or at least be able to live with us cheerfully.

I have had some interesting conversations with Jubilee about family recently. As I was reading about the church, the body of Christ, in Corinthians, the relevance to family life was striking. I changed the topic to family. Hands and feet became children, and this became the message to mine.




For as our family is one and has many people, but all the members of that one family, being many, are one family, so also is Christ. For by one God we were all brought into one family - whether white or black, whether American or Ethiopian - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact our family is not one person, but many. If BK should say, 'because I am not Mads, I am not of this family,' is she therefore not of the family? And if Jubilee should say, 'because I am not Bron, I am not of this family,' is she therefore not of the family? If the whole family were BK, where would K-man be? If the whole were K-man, where would Ed be?



But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the family just as He pleased. And if they were all one person, where would the family be?



But now indeed there are many people, yet one family. And Nes cannot say to Omega, 'I have no need of you;' nor again Dad to SoSo, 'I have no need of you.' No, much rather, those members of the family which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the family which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our weaker members have greater modesty, but our presentable members have no need.



But God composed the family, having given greater honor to that member which lacks it, that there should be no division in the family, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one person suffers, all the members suffer with him; or if one person is honored, all the members rejoice with her.



Now you are the Schus, and members individually. And God has appointed these in our family: some sprinters, some long distance runners, some gymnasts, some good students; after that artists, and swimmers. Some have the gifts of gab, helping, or organizing, and to others varieties of language. Are all gymnasts? Are all long distance runners? Are all organized? Are all dancers? Do all have the gift of gab? Do all speak two languages? Are we all the same? But earnestly desire these gifts.



And yet I show you a more excellent way. LOVE. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.



Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts.