Several years ago, I was taking courses with Western Conservative Seminary having to do with a women's program on Pastoral Care of Women...so interesting and so appropriate at the time...I used every course, not only for the course work, but In real life everyday and still is....
In one course, we had a project of making up a family. We chose ages, characteristics of that age, how the church could minister to or reach them, what interest points they may have had, what problems they may be facing, their whole life...it was like writing a book about a family...and the paper was about that size when I finished...
I chose the 30 somethings age group...we had many in the community of mine workers and my children were starting into that age group...(now they all are and one has moved into the 40 something group...how time has flown!!!)
My husband got into the project as well..he loved being a father and/or friend to all those people we interacted with in church, in professional groups, around town... As well as our family...
...we rode around town taking pictures of various houses, hobbies of families, talking to people before the "family" took shape on paper...it made us more aware of activities and personalities of our hometown....How we could respond to those around us all the time...how we could help those around us as well...
I finished the paper of my "made up" family and we eventually started having college age students for Sunday breakfast and Bible study...what a blessing for my husband to learn and talk to students and friends...I loved the cooking for groups, so we were both blessed to serve others as our family had left the nest...now I look at those families, with children and/or careers of their own, seeing them ministering to others in a variety of ways...it was a gift of time to be able to be part of their lives...God blessed us so much...
The "made up" family turned into a multitude of real ones...service to others, friends for life and death...so many came to visit us and we with them during my husband's illness...they blessed us by their friendship and care...and still do...
thank YOU for your Word which encourages us to bear with one another, building one another up in the faith...
John 15:8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Ephesians 4:2, 7 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15b Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing......... but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
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