family matters

"family matters"...
those things we want to keep private
hidden in "closets"
"swept under the rug"
ignored or denied
slights/offenses, real or imagined
those "things" that are definitely not discussed in public
sometimes these things tear families apart
and there is no way to put the pieces back together again
sometimes they bind families together in ways that are not healthy

the longer I live 
the more I realize 
that healthy families do not "just happen"
they are not a guarantee, 
even when parents "do all the right things"
and they are not always made up of people we share DNA with

family matters
and because I am more convinced than ever of that statement
I encourage you to

• cherish the healthy family relationships you have
• invest in those relationships
• be open to adding more members

and in regards to broken relationships:

• forgive so you can be free 
• restore or rebuild when and where you can
• release what cannot or should not be be recovered 

for me, 
the only way I can do this is to live in relationship with Christ
to lean on Him 
to accept His power to love as He has loved me
it is not easy
it is not a quick process
but as I walk in obedience I am amazed at the blessings that come