“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12–13
For my fortieth birthday, my wife asked a bunch of people in my life to write me letters. I will treasure them for the rest of my life. They are a humbling collection indeed.
One that particularly moved me came from my sister-in-law. In its final paragraph she talked about how thankful she was that my wife and I had brought our daughter into the world (a sentiment with which I agree wholeheartedly).
The daughter of my brother and sister-in-law is nine months older than our daughter, but the two of them are thick as thieves and enjoy getting to see each other any time they can.
My sister-in-law wrote that if our daughter ever felt blue, she need only be reminded that she’s her cousin’s favorite person. I read the sentence to my wife and started crying.
This kind of grace — my daughter’s a decent kid, but it’s not like she’s earned her cousin’s undying affection — is a picture of what we receive in God’s family. My niece doesn’t need any more reason to love our daughter than that their cousins.
It is sometimes miraculous to me that I’m related to the people I’m related to. I have two remarkable brothers, a remarkable mom and dad, who were themselves the children of remarkable parents. I’ve never met anyone in the world like some of my aunts and uncles. The only reason I know people like them is because I’m related to them!
Family is a gift from God, and being a part of God’s family is an even greater gift. I am appreciative of my sister-in-law — and many others — giving me the chance to reflect on that gift.