Advent Day 3: Family

Family. That word can bring feelings of great joy to one person and feelings of tremendous pain for another. For some, family has been a place of love, security, and safety, while for others it has been a place of great hurt.

For Scrooge, family was not something of which he thought. He had only one family member, his dead sister’s son, Fred. But Scrooge had so isolated himself from his sole familial tie that he had no connection whether physically or emotionally. He had detached from his family altogether.

Whereas Scrooge gave no thought to Fred and his family, Fred gave considerable thought to Scrooge, endeavoring to reach out to his curmudgeonly uncle for the Christmas feast. But alas, Scrooge did not see family as something to embrace, but rather something to ignore, reject, and forget. Scrooge’s open hostility and rejection was hurtful and regretful for sweet Fred.

What Scrooge failed to acknowledge, and something the Bible affirms, is that family is a blessing! Or, it should be. Time and time again the Bible shows the blessings of a loving family that loves, provides for, and protects one another.  Abraham rescued his nephew Lot. Ruth showed kindness to Naomi and Boaz showed kindness to Ruth. Joseph showed restraint, compassion, and forgiveness for his brothers.

Psalm 127.3-5 tells us that children are a blessing to their parents, yet Proverbs 15.20 tells us that a wise son brings joy to his parents, but a foolish one despises his parents. So, a family member can be either a blessing or a curse. In the case of the Scrooge family, Fred was a blessing and Scrooge was the curse. Fred saw the value in his family, longed for familial bonding with his uncle, and reached out to Scrooge. Scrooge, on the other hand, was the fool. He rejected Fred. Saw no value in familial bonding.  One attempted to bring joy to the other. The other despised his family and brought hurt.

When the Ghost of Christmas Present conveyed Scrooge to observe the Cratchit household, Scrooge saw what family engage as it was designed. He saw husband and wife, parents and children – all interacting with great love and affection for one another. He observed genuine compassion and care.

Which are you? Do you see your family as a gift from the Lord? Do you see your family as something to cherish? to uphold? 

How do we handle