Family
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Ps 27:10
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7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalms 27:7-14 (NIV)
---------------------------
A small home had been purchased in the middle of Ontario’s cottage country.
Two women and three men were welcomed and formed a little family community.
Most of the people had lived the majority of their lives in a very
large provincial institution.
Christmas arrived. One lady, Wanda, returned to Toronto to spend Christmas with
her elderly parents. The second lady, Betsy, had lived in an institution since her
father had remarried many years earlier. It was determined that Betsy might
complicate the family’s Christmas celebrations, so she was asked to visit her family
the day before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, she returned with no gifts.
Three days after Christmas, I was traveling to cottage country and so arrangements
were made for me to pick Wanda up in Toronto and to take her with me. When we
arrived, it was an experience never to be forgotten. Wanda burst into the home
and was warmly welcomed by Betsy. Wanda showed Betsy all of the presents
that she had received from her family.
Betsy beamed brightly and lifted a necklace with a watch pendant that hung
around her neck. She explained how one of the support workers had taken
Betsy to celebrate Christmas with her young family. The family had a
present for Betsy under the tree.
Betsy couldn’t tell time but she could understand acceptance and love. My heart
broke because I knew what her own parents had missed. They missed knowing a
wonderful friend and daughter. However, I also rejoiced with Betsy. Through this
wonderful Christian family, Betsy had no doubt that God loved her.
Has God embraced you through a special friendship? Is God using you to exhibit
His love to someone who needs to be included or supported at this point in his or
her life? Would you be willing to remain sensitive to such opportunities for
service if and when God brings them to you?
---------------------------
Heavenly Father, family can be such a wonderful blessing. Thank You for designing
life so that a newborn child would be welcomed into this world, loved by a mother
and father. At such times, I am so thankful that You, our heavenly Father, are
faithful and proactively calling people into Your embrace. Amen.
Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. Ps 27:10
---------------------------
7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
13 I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalms 27:7-14 (NIV)
---------------------------
A small home had been purchased in the middle of Ontario’s cottage country.
Two women and three men were welcomed and formed a little family community.
Most of the people had lived the majority of their lives in a very
large provincial institution.
Christmas arrived. One lady, Wanda, returned to Toronto to spend Christmas with
her elderly parents. The second lady, Betsy, had lived in an institution since her
father had remarried many years earlier. It was determined that Betsy might
complicate the family’s Christmas celebrations, so she was asked to visit her family
the day before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, she returned with no gifts.
Three days after Christmas, I was traveling to cottage country and so arrangements
were made for me to pick Wanda up in Toronto and to take her with me. When we
arrived, it was an experience never to be forgotten. Wanda burst into the home
and was warmly welcomed by Betsy. Wanda showed Betsy all of the presents
that she had received from her family.
Betsy beamed brightly and lifted a necklace with a watch pendant that hung
around her neck. She explained how one of the support workers had taken
Betsy to celebrate Christmas with her young family. The family had a
present for Betsy under the tree.
Betsy couldn’t tell time but she could understand acceptance and love. My heart
broke because I knew what her own parents had missed. They missed knowing a
wonderful friend and daughter. However, I also rejoiced with Betsy. Through this
wonderful Christian family, Betsy had no doubt that God loved her.
Has God embraced you through a special friendship? Is God using you to exhibit
His love to someone who needs to be included or supported at this point in his or
her life? Would you be willing to remain sensitive to such opportunities for
service if and when God brings them to you?
---------------------------
Heavenly Father, family can be such a wonderful blessing. Thank You for designing
life so that a newborn child would be welcomed into this world, loved by a mother
and father. At such times, I am so thankful that You, our heavenly Father, are
faithful and proactively calling people into Your embrace. Amen.
- Noel Churchman
Noel was the Executive Director of Christian Horizons form 1976 to 2001. The devotionals we will be using are from a book he wrote in 2005 called “Walking with God”. Noel’s reflections are grounded in his experiences as an educator, and provider of supports for individuals with exceptional needs as well as his life as a dedicated follower of Christ.
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