Day 11 | Love and grace

Reflection

This week we'll explore the purpose God gives us in our family relationships.

As Jesus speaks to his followers about prayer, he offers us a glimpse into his thoughts on family life. He acknowledges that those listening have an idea of what it means to be a good parent.

For those that have kids, they know what it means to give good gifts to their children. They have a concept of familial responsibility and love. How much greater will the love of their Heavenly Father be?

This picture of family love reveals to us that we have incredible purpose in that place. We are not designed to be isolated, lonely creatures. We are called to live in community, and that starts with those we call our family – whether we share their DNA or not!

This doesn’t mean those relationships are easy all the time, or even that they've ever been functional. Just as Jesus points out in the passage, we are sinful and broken. This brokenness affects the relationships in our families. Therefore, purpose in our families must start with love and quickly incorporate grace, patience, and forgiveness.

With tempers, egos, emotional baggage, and in some cases a whole lot of hurt, families can feel more like battlefields rather than nurturing, peaceful environments.

However, Jesus says that whilst we do indeed have tempers, egos, emotional baggage, and a whole lot of hurt, we still have the capacity to love one another (John 13:34).

Being faithful in our families may require an extraordinary amount of grace. But the kindness and love we can offer there can help bring about restoration, however small, amongst those we count as our relatives.

Father, whatever our experience of family life, help us to see how our purpose there begins with love and grace. Amen.