Late Wednesday night, around 10:30, I received a text from Michael, my husband. He was with his parents in Atlanta at the airport. The text read, “They are here, exhausted.” Michael, his mom and dad were experiencing an important Day family milestone. For the first time Michael’s dad, Johnny, was meeting his half brother, his niece and his three great nephews. The were arriving from France.
Not quite two years ago Johnny learned of this family. Immediately emails, ichats, face-time, letters and every form of long-distance communication possible began. Across the ocean they started the process of getting to know one another. There were so many questions. They wanted to learn about their roots; they wanted to know who they are.
Unfortunately, the one person they needed to meet had passed away. Their father, grandfather and great grandfather had gone on to heaven a few years before. The only way for them to get to know the man they had never known was to meet his family.
And so, they are here – in Tennessee, meeting all of us. Michael’s parents have been preparing for months for the “french family” to arrive. It is unspoken, but known by those of us in the Day family : we need to show our new-found family their father’s love.
These words remind me of something that I know, but forget sometimes. Everywhere there are people in my day-to day life. People who don’t know my heavenly Father. Oh, they are searching for Him. Their eyes are empty, their hearts are broken; they do not know what it is like to be cared for by my Father.
The only way they can experience His love is if I love them. He knew it would be this way. So He commanded in John 15:
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
If I can show those around me the Father’s love, their questions can be answered, their hearts can find healing. It is the love of the Father that draws them in, through the power of the Holy spirit and by adoption they come into the family. from Romans 8:
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
I can’t help but realize that as a daughter of the Heavenly Father it is my job to answer the question. Hearts that are hurting and searching find healing and answers when they learn of their Father’s love. And it is a beautiful thing when another son or daughter joins the family.
No more questions. We’re family.
daily portion 