He spoke, He created, He cultivated.
Oftentimes in speaking it was a clear instruction as to what should happen. Yet when it came to humanity, it wasn’t just a command, it was a conversation, a consultation an internal dialogue that struck upon a great idea for who should look after everything that was created on the earth.
What is remarkable about the narrative at the heart of scripture is the role of connecting and constructive communication between the husband and his bride and the Father and His children. Everything good flowed from ths communicaton. The relationship between the husband (God) and His wife (Israel) thrived when the dialogue was engaged constructively on both parts. Things tended to deteriorate when the wife wanted to go and do her own thing, breaking the vows of the covenant that married them together. Yet the husband remained faithful and ever desirous to see th fruit emerge from the relationship. Fruit as seen in the great character of the Creator shining from His beloved wife through the world.
This pattern was to be the bedrock of how the family flourished. From faithful husband to faithful wife was the interchange of connecting and constructive communication. Intimacy developed as a result of this communication – appreciating that this was not limited to verbal interplay but extended to those tender touches of affection. It included those facial gestures that gave reassurance of the commitment to stay together and stick it through whatever happened. It was particularly encapsulated by that communication that saw word and intent reinforced by action.
That pattern between husband and wife would then be the basis on which the generation to cme would look up to and engage in a similar dialogue. The nuance of this communication, however, bore all the marks of those who had been brought up to honour those who brought them up.Parents would practice the sort of communication they expected the children to model as they grew and took on responsibility. Likewise the children would acknowledge the crucial nururing role of their elders and respect that.
It’s Connecting Communication
The bonds that attach are reinforced through the communication of serving, caring, supporting and extending the sentiment that the other is of significant worth. Whether in the preparation of a meal or in a space given to unpack the issues of the day, the desired outcome is to establish once more that this is no fleeting and superficial relationship. It is not a nominal statement to state that there are ties that bind.
Even as we hear the Father affirm his Son in the presence of others, so the communication affirms attachment.
It’s Constructive Communication
As long as we are not the finished article, there is purpose in the communication. As long as there is growth to take place, there is direction in the communication. This is particularly essential when there are storms of life that look to shatter and demoralise. Character is developed in the family communication that says that faith can help to withstand the storm. Faith in the bonds is not just about a reassurance to rest, but an encouragement to carry on growing, to mature.
This is why the parents give their children the teaching and guidance required so they can grow on the platform to establish a life of righteousness flourishing in a way that allows others to flourish. Building people to enable them to buld others with communication playing a pivotal role in that.
It is no surprise, then, that a main area of attacking the family is in the quality of communication that takes place in it. Rather than looking to connect, it aggravates and detaches. Rather than selflessly giving and building, selfish desires corrupts communication. Whether it’s the youthful impulse to rebel and be independent or the controlling tendency of the adult that wants to live through their offspring for their own sense of self-worth. There is a wide variety of ways in which the fabric of the family is attacked through those angry outbursts, those sullen retreats, those bitter barbs and cynical snipes. Reflections of hearts contaminated with negative, destructive, self-absorbed thoughtswith no room for washing it away through loving, challenging and kind communication.
This is why the heavenly Father forms a family based on His character communicated in ways that builds others to build others. His children grow to know Him and be like Him. as they mature, they also get to support others in the family to develop that way. This is the way in which His family can stand as a model for others to see a godly alternative to what others want to view as the norm.
This is the way in which God continues to create, connect, construct and cultivate even as He communicates.
(Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 