Part of the Family

You know how you know your children's fiances have become part of your family? When you haven't seen them in awhile and your heart fills with joy to spend time with them! Yesterday I got to spend some time with Kayla. I so enjoyed visiting with her. We had lots to catch up on and enjoyed some dinner together. Then to top off the evening, we Skyped with someone we both love and miss ... Anton. How many future daughter-in-laws spend a Saturday evening with their future mother-in-law? Not sure what those numbers are, but so grateful for the relationship I have with her. Kayla is a part of our family and we love her very much. And we feel the same about Rob. We loved Kayla and Rob before the couples got engaged. And we're so excited to officially make them our family members (just 12 days from now for Rob). We are firm believers that with these weddings we are not losing children, but rather gaining them. Our children have found the one whom their heart loves. They get strength and comfort from their beloved, support, encouragement, correction and much love. To hear how Kayla has helped Anton figure out what to get for his apartment (which will be their apartment in eight months), and hear about Rob's involvement in the details and errands necessary for their upcoming nuptials solidifies for us how much these two couples have become a team. Both couples have had to deal with separation by distance. Both have dealt with conflicts. Both have romanced each other in precious ways. Both have had adventures together. Both have prayed and worshiped together. And to think this is just the beginning!

We are so happy for our children that they have found and are engaged to the love of their life. How grateful we are to God for creating these precious individuals. How blessed we feel to have them as part of our family! And we pray we have been a blessing to them. Giving glory to God this Sunday morning for these two new blessings our lives. And praying for their days leading up to the weddings and all the days ever after. We love you!

Discussion: How has the relationship between you and your future in-laws grown? Do you see your marriage as joining a new family or creating your own? What have you learned from your future in-laws?

Prayer: Lord God, you have been so gracious to our children to bring Rob and Kayla into their lives! Thank you for the work you have done in them the days leading up to our children meeting them and the work you continue to do in them in their relationships. We pray for continued strengthening, blessings, growth and love for them both. In Jesus, Amen.

Do It Well

While preparing information for The River recently, I came across a site with the "best advice for graduates" based on commencement speeches given all over the country. All the advice was good, but one in particular intrigued me. It said, "Whatever you do, do it well." I think what it was saying is, you have unique talent, so do that the very best you can at accomplishing great things with it.

Looking at that from a Christian sense, this is likewise true. God has talented each of us with something(s) special, and He expects us to use it to His glory. Think about the parable Jesus shares about the talents in Matthew 25. The master entrusts his servants to care for his property while he's out and gives each a certain number of talents. The first two double what is entrusted to him. The last hides his talent and thus is reprimanded. God doesn't just expect us to use our talents. He expects us to expound upon them, grow the Kingdom, do great things. Hiding them makes those gifts pretty worthless.

Each of you has been gifted with certain talents. Some of you have leadership skills, some social, some mathematical, some organizational, some creative, some mechanical and so on. In your marriage one of you will be more skilled at one thing than the other. And what a beautiful thing that will be. It will allow each of you to shine at what you excel. What a wonderful team it will make you. If you know your spouse has a better gift for something you're tackling, give it to him/her. It will be far easier for them and will get done more efficiently and cost effectively. When you've been asked to help or accomplish something you are known to do better, embrace it. Don't look at it as a burden, but a blessing. For if God has gifted you with that talent, then step forward in faith to do your part.

We love seeing the different skill set, talents, knowledge and background each of you bring to your marriages. You will accomplish so much if you work together, support one another, continue to try to learn more and seek to do the very best you can at what you can do. So whatever you do, do it well!

Discussion: Talk to each other about what your strengths and weaknesses are with regards to certain skills and talents? How can you help each other? What are things you can do to improve what you already do well? How can you use those skills to further God's Kingdom?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for all you've entrusted us to do. We thank you for what makes each of us unique. Help us to appreciate those different talents and support each other in them. Continue, Lord, to make each couple a blessed team for You. In Jesus, Amen.