“I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3
This was God’s promise to Abram. He promised to bless his “family” which is thought to be all believers thereafter.
Below this verse in my study bible is a “word wealth” which further defines the term “mishpachah” as “A family of people, a type, class, or kind of people or things; a species of animals, a group of related individuals (a tribe), or a group of related things (a category). The main concept of “mishpachah” is that people, animals or things that share a kinship or similarity of kind form a family, clan or species. Thus its scope can be as narrow as an immediate family, or as broad as a whole nation.”
God speaks to me in impressions. Even before stumbling upon this definition of family, I FELT this description of family impressed on my heart throughout the week. I was aware in the moment and my heart was full with each new revelation.
First, there is natural family. I was raised in a family with parents who loved each other and their children – my two older brothers and me (a shout out to my parents celebrating 55 years of marriage this year!!). I thought my family was the norm. I only knew a small number of people whose parents were divorced and our community was pretty homogenous. It wasn’t until I went away to college that I recognized family looked different to different people and not everyone was close with theirs. Because I knew nothing else, I didn’t come to appreciate the uniqueness of my family until we were no longer living under the same roof. I look back now at those years growing up and know I was truly blessed. I still am as I continue in relationship with all of them.
Next, there is extended family. Last week our family traveled to Las Vegas for an international rugby competition. Rather than stay at a hotel we were fortunate to be able to crash at the home of our dear friends who live there. To call them “friends” really understates our relationship. We have never lived in the same town, but as two couples we vacationed together every year. Then we shared our pregnancies together, traveling back and forth for baby showers and birthday parties. And then this special couple gave us the greatest gift of our lives (see The Greatest Gifts) when she offered to carry our third child for us as a surrogate. Now THAT is family.
We’ve gone from two couples to two families of five. Our kids see each other about once or twice a year but watching them together it’s like no time has passed. And as my youngest son said, referring to their kids “they are not family, but they are LIKE family.” Our kids even call them Uncle and Auntie because Mr. and Mrs. does not convey the bond we share.
And then there’s our rugby family. Saturday we got up and headed out to UNLV to watch the USA Sevens Rugby tournament where we met up with over 70 people from our rugby club who had also made the trek. Over the years our boys have played many sports, including baseball, football, soccer, tennis, golf, and martial arts. They’ve played rugby now for four years. Each of us would emphatically tell you that our rugby club is the closest to family of any sports organization in which we have ever participated.
Partly it’s the history of the sport. They say rugby is a hooligans’ sport played by gentlemen. Talk to anyone you know who has played the game and they will speak fondly and reverently of the sport. It’s said you could go into a pub anywhere in the world and meet another rugby player and they’d invite you home with them. In addition to the broad sweeping fondness for the game, our Cavaliers Rugby Club is comprised of amazing families – great people within a larger club family. At the tournament our kids were given leeway to roam the stadium with their teammates and everyone looked out for each others’ kids. Even our littlest mascot at 4 years old was watched over by the village of club families. Sitting in the middle of this wild and wacky group I felt honored to be included and grateful for the sport and our Cavaliers tribe.
A final example of family this week is our church family. After fifteen years the congregation has changed, the leadership has changed and the church decor has changed many times. One thing hasn’t changed for us – the feeling of “coming home” when we walk in the building. It’s the hugs of old friends and the warm smiles and embraces for new ones. It’s the spiritual fathers and mothers who have walked with us on our faith journey and the people who have taught and cared for our kids. It’s the body who stands with us in prayer, whenever our call goes out. It’s the women who provided hot meals for the first two months when our twins were born. It’s the men who stand shoulder to shoulder with my husband on the board, who help guide and support our leadership. I didn’t grow up in church so I never knew the love and support of a community of believers. I count them as one of my greatest blessings.
This was just one week. Even now I can think of many other groups in which I feel like family and experience the love throughout each day and week as I move between them. Our lives are full of family. Our hearts our overflowing.
Who is your family? Your tribe? Recognize those people God has placed around you as family. Love them.
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