We have recently experienced growth in our little home-based business – that is – we are now regularly looking after all three of our grandchildren at once. We have been anticipating the growth for a while, and now that it is a reality we have been surprised at how well we have coped – mostly!
Shared DNA but different
Our three grandchildren are very different, despite their shared DNA. They are different ages, at different stages of development, and different in their interests and abilities. The eldest is 5, intelligent, inquisitive, quick to learn, loves spending hours drawing and colouring, is very precise and exact, enjoys being outdoors whenever he can. The middle one is less precise and exact, especially with her colouring. She can flit from thing to thing, doesn’t really appreciate the outdoors as much, loves playing shops, or babies, dances and sings with abandon. A true free spirit. The youngest – well he is nearly 1 and we don’t know exactly what he likes most – except food, and music videos – and being with his siblings.
A place of familiarity and safety
Last time they were all here, our usually content youngest was not so happy. We had tried to get him to have his well needed afternoon sleep, and it hadn’t gone to plan. He was grouchy and upset and cried the most we have ever heard him. Walking him around didn’t help, proffered snacks didn’t help, cuddles didn’t help, until I carried him back into the lounge where his brother and sister were busy playing together. The minute he saw them he stopped crying. We put on a music video and he went to sleep. He just wanted to be with his siblings.
It got me thinking about the power of shared DNA. Of course it isn’t just genetics that binds our three grandchildren together. They are family; they live together, play together, have meals together, have the same parents. Being together is a place of familiarity and safety for them. They love each other very much.
Out of church
My husband and I have been out of church for a while. It wasn’t something we had anticipated or wanted. It was just something that happened, and with it came grief, pain and hurt. We were both brought up in the church; I am a Pastor’s kid, he the son of an Elder. We loved church and all it meant. We had given our lives to serving it. Being out of church was tough, but it was also necessary. God used those months to do a healing work in both of us. But we missed the community, the shared experiences of God, the social aspects of church. We missed our brothers and sisters.
A new family
Just recently God has led us to be a part of a new church fellowship. It is already feeling safe, and loving and joyous. We find ourselves back in a family, and it feels good. God’s heart has always been for family, both physical and spiritual. He knows we need each other to truly grow and thrive.
Are we all the same? No of course not. We are a group of people with very different personalities, giftings, levels of spiritual maturity. Will we always agree about everything? Probably not. My grandchildren certainly don’t play nicely together all the time. But they still love each other and want to be together.
A more powerful shared DNA
The shared DNA that I have with my church family is so much more powerful than human genetics. We have all been adopted into God’s family through the blood of Jesus. We all have His Spirit living in us. We share Him. We also share a vision that He has independently put on our hearts for what church might look like, and how it could impact our community.
I am glad to be back in church. I know that maintaining unity will sometimes be a battle. I believe that it will be worth it though. My brothers and sisters are precious to me, and I want them to always feel safe with me, and I with them. God has given this family to me, and calls me to love them, bear with them, forgive them, encourage them, and be thankful for them. God grant me the grace to do all that.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3: 12-17