Last night our new church had their “Meet and Greet” a new ministry couple. It reminded me much of when I met my step children. Knowing that they might not be exactly thrilled to have a new step mother, I was concerned that our life would be really tough. I had much fear about how our household would operate if they were angry about a new authority in their life. They had only seen my face twice, when their Dad shared with them we were to be married. The children were 12 and 16 at the time.
I didn’t know much about my new step children except one thing. God had shown me that His call to me was simply to love them….that it wasn’t my job to judge, change, or rebirth them…but simply to love them. I had made the decision before we ever married that I was going to love them, and figure out why after I knew them (can you imagine leaving the hospital with a 12 and 16 year old new baby?, Step families do it all the time, they may come potty trained, but they have a whole different kind of gas issue and stinkiness sometimes!) The perception of choosing to love first and figure out why later was one I shared with our soon to be new minister Brother Jackie and his wife Sweet Libby (see, it turns out Sweetie and Sweet Libby are already from the same vine! family!!) The church was built to provide a place for all people in Christian love and adoration.
We are called by God to love one another, and to forgive others as we forgive ourselves. I was reminded last night of just how exciting new love can be. You don’t have to decide whether or not someone is loveable, you don’t need to judge them worthy…or even qualify them with their actions….you simply have to make a decision….to love them with God’s love….until you can also love them with you own!
I have to tell you, seven years later, there are a jillion reasons I can share with you why I love my step children…..and they have indeed been loved…..and still are!
Psalms 34:4 I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
