The Ties that Bind

“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”

Acts 10:2 NIV

My grandparents on my mother's side both died when I was in elementary school. Memories of them are few but blessed. Farmers and Christians they raised their family in faith. Years after my grandmother passed away I was blessed to get a look at her bible. It was worn and written in and I distinctly remember the plan of salavation known as the Roman Road being written in the cover. That visual of God's grace and mercy spoke to me in a powerful way. It was a tangible connection to a woman I didn't get to know well enough. 

The ties that bind generations are not just the genetic code that flows in our veins. Sometimes it's the soul connection that crosses time and space and reaches to eternity. Family is important. They are often the ones who help to shape who we become. For the good and the bad. We draw a huge part of who we are from the people we spend the most time with. They teach about love and life. 

Sometimes that teaching isn't from a positive and we may reflect that in how we look at life. We may allow fear to have too much control because that's what we learned early in life. We can become hesitant or afraid of making a mistake. I am very blessed that I come from generations of Christians but that doesn't mean they were all perfect people. Far from it. When you dig into our family tree there are some big splinters on some branches that I'm sure we would like to keep hidden. 

I really have two families. Not just those by blood but those I am bound to in faith. Friends and acquaintances who connect through the soul. Our Father is God and the tie that binds our souls will last all eternity. Even when those who are our blood relations die or for whatever reason disconnect from us we will always be a part of God's family. 

I found that especially true over the years when I didn't live close to my blood family. It was my soul family who helped carry me and mine through very rough waters. That's why community of believers is so important. God doesn't want us to find a church just to be a part of something. He knows we need that fellowship for when all the rest falls away. 

“not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 NIV