MY FAMILY: version 1.6.1
Year after year the dynamic within the home changes. Every family changes. The ages of parents and children change. Relationships change. Situations change. People change.
It’s kind of like software updates… what version is your family?
At this point my family is what I might call version 1.6.1. Yes, I’ll tell you what that means (to me).
1 – one wife. (One is all I want or need) and she’s my first (and only) one.
6 – six children. I actually have 5 children and one daughter-in-law… but Hannah is like a daughter in every way, so I count her. When sons-in-law join the family I’ll refer to them the same way too.
1 – one grandchild. It may not be a full reality at the time of this writing, but today (yes, the day this article is posting) is the day that my son Aaron and his wife Hannah are scheduled to have the labor for their first child (a boy) induced.
That’s what I mean by MY FAMILY: version 1.6.1
Think of all the changes that my family situation entails:
- I was married (a huge change)
- We had a child (another huge change)
- We had another child
- and another child
- and another child
- and another child
- and another child
- we gained a daughter (in-law)
- now we’re gaining a grandchild
And that is only speaking of additional people. There have also been losses of loved ones (my grandmother, both my wife’s grandmothers, her grandfather, many uncles and aunts), changes in relationships with extended family members, health issues, financial gains and setbacks, job losses and new jobs, etc, etc, etc.
The change that comes in the history of one family is endless.
My hope and prayer is that like software, the changes that occur in my family serve as upgrades.
I want me and those within my family to learn and grow with every change… I want to see more
- Christ-likeness
- patience
- love
- humility
- wisdom
- God-fearing
- grace
- boldness
- compassion
- service to others
- creativity
- endurance
- and Christian faith that is passed on from one generation to the next in spite of every change.
I pray the same for you and your family. It’s why I write, why I do a podcast, and why I make videos.
My heart is consumed with that desire for your family because my heart is consumed with that desire for my own.
But the relationship I have with Christ CANNOT be only about me.
It has to be passed down – to my children, and their children (the first one arrives today, God willing), and their children, and their children… throughout the changing generations of my family until Jesus comes back.
That is the one thing that CANNOT CHANGE.
It is the one thing that MUST NOT CHANGE.
So I pray daily for the LORD to make my faith…
- Real
- Genuine
- Authentic
- Bonafide
- True
- Indisputable
so that those who are coming behind me will never be able to doubt that Jesus is real and active and desirous of living in and through them.
I want them to know it because they have seen it in my life.
And I want to teach and model for them how they can be that same type of example of God’s grace for their children.
And I want to show them how they can teach the same thing to their children, etc. etc.
So…
As I think about My Family: version 1.6.1 – I know there is more change ahead… and I am praying that every update is an improvement – for the glory of God.
How would you describe YOUR family version at this point? What do you want your family legacy to be? Leave your comments below.
by 
What a fabulous post in every way. Such a beautiful perspective and purpose. I love “so that those who are coming behind me will never be able to doubt that Jesus is real and active and desirous of living in and through them.” What a great goal. You are so faithful in your devotion to Christ and the health of the family unit. This was an encouragement as I’ve been struggling with the change in our family as kids go off to college. Thank you!
Lisa B you are so sweet! I’ve never been told a post is “fabulous in every way!” Thanks for your encouragement. I’ll pray for you regarding the changes you’re facing. We’ve had some big changes lately too (new grandson was born on Tuesday)… and it’s hard to make the shift into a new season of life. I’m working a post specifically about that right now. Watch for it (the parable of the chisel).
I think a lot about how what I’m doing is not only modeling to my boys how they should act, but how I’m modeling to them how to model to their kids – and so on and so on. Hopefully it will be a long and positive legacy!
Loren Pinilis I’m finding that one of the important pieces of building that legacy is in talking about it openly. Our kids know that we are aiming at that, and that they are a very important part of it being continuously passed on. But that only “works” if my relationship with the LORD is genuine enough for them to see for themselves. That way they truly want it for themselves and develop a passion to pass it along because it becomes genuine for them. Blessings to you and yours Loren.