Dear Heavenly Father:
What a wonder you are. You are so good, pure and kind. You are so merciful and generous in opportunities to enjoy the life you give.
One fascinating element of that is what you have given in terms of family. I wake up next to my wife. I walk around the home and have three beautiful daughters. I’m in contact with my siblings and their offspring. As well as that this year you’ve granted me the privilege of connecting with other members of the blood family in the last year or so and that has been great.
More than that, though, you have allowed me to see how relationships with people who are not related by blood to me are as good as family to me. Mothers, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters from various walks of life. They embraced me and let me be with them and they are family to me. They look for my welfare and give me the honour of looking out for theirs, they are family to me.
You have been so good to me in enabling these relationships and designing them to flourish. As I reflect in thanks for that, I’m also aware of others who have been damaged and seemingly forever hurt by messed up family relations. I’m aware of that tussle between wanting to be loved and not wanting to be abused again. I know there are others who have not been and are not in a privileged a position as I enjoy. I know that so don’t take it for granted and ask you in your mercy to be attentive to the cries of those looking for real, true, loving and supportive family.
I ask that as I also celebrate your goodness in this family. Thank you for my wife. Thank you for our three great daughters. Thank you for this home where we look to practice the love you give to us. Thank you for spared life and the time you give us to support each other through life’s various trials and celebrations.
Thank you, so much, heavenly Father and allow me to ever grow in gratitude by valuing family as you teach us how.
Thank you, Father.
(Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash)
For Your Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 