"Then His mother and His brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, 'Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.'. And He replied, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?'. And looking at those who sat around Him, He said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.'."
***********************************
The Wilson family is a pretty tight bunch.
As I was growing up, my brother, sisters and I spent a lot of time with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. For many people, unfortunately, this time with family is at best, a penance. At worst, it is a gathering filled with conflict and discord. But for us...now more than Wilson, but also called Clark and Finnity and Elliott and Cantine (and soon to be Rosen)...it was, and continues to be, some of the most joyful moments in our lives.
When I think about growing up in a very closely knit family, I realize the power which exists when you have a large group of people around you who will do anything for you. When you are surrounded by people who you know, so deeply in your heart because you have seen it so many times, love you and support you and genuinely care about what is going on in your life, how can you fail?
The thing that is most interesting to me about all of the people who have descended from Al and Bonnie Wilson, and the people they have brought into our family as spouses (I am going to brag a little here), is the love they so freely give. Each of them...every single one...seems to possess this abounding love, not only for each other, but for the people in their lives who are outside of our family. Even though, I believe, they each possess a fervent love for their brothers and sisters to whom they are joined by blood, they are also passionate about showing love to those outside our family. They have each taken the gift of love and support which was shown to them and carried it outside of this unit, making brothers and sisters of those around them.
In just over two weeks, my baby sister Abbi is getting married! As if this special event was not already joyful enough, its magnificence is compounded with the fact that I will get to spend a couple of days with some of the people I love most in my life. My parents; my aunts and uncles; Grandma Bonnie; my cousins; my nieces and nephews...my brother and sisters and their husbands and wives. What great joy!
Now, the mantle has been past. The responsibility of supporting the development of close relationships between each of our children has come to us. The brothers and sisters and cousins of my generation were given an amazing gift. It is our joy and our duty to ensure that the children of the next generation have the same love, the same generosity of spirit, the same power of a supporting family given to them. And, that they take it into the world.
So, be brothers and sisters to one another. Abound in love, build each other up give support to those around you. Know that when you call a man "brother" and woman "sister", you create a special relationship which, when joined with Christ's love, becomes something greater than the two of you as individuals could ever be alone.
No comments:
Post a Comment