“Hey, can you come here I want to talk to you…” my heart sank. Me? Oh gosh… she wanted to talk to me? I walked towards her room with a million thoughts swarming in my head of what this could possibly be about.
Anytime someone says “we need to talk” or “let’s talk” or something along those lines, I don’t know what to think. Sometimes I wonder if something is wrong or maybe it’s going to be a hard conversation.
Ever have that thought?
She set down a load of laundry to fold and said “come, have a seat and talk to me…how’s your life Nettie?”
“How are things going…what’s God been teaching you?”
“You know, I just really connect with you and want to have a mom and daughter chat.”
I was taken back and wanted to cry.
Beth is her name. She’s our host for this month but more than that, she’s family. Both Beth and her husband Bryan have genuinely invested into each and every one of my teammates.
They truly have shown us that we are family, and what that actually looks like.
Every night we have what we call “family dinner.” Now I know you’re probably thinking yes I know what that is…but “family dinner” in today’s society sounds good and is talked about but usually doesn’t happen. Life gets too busy and it’s just easier to grab fast food or whip up a quick meal, right?
Not for Beth and Bryan, family dinner is important and valued. At family dinner we don’t even look at our phones, we engage in community conversation. Bryan always says, “It’s my favorite time of the day,” which for me is also true.
We’ve laughed over childhood stories, we’ve cried over hearing hard news, we’ve challenged each other in answering tough questions in life, we’ve offered advice about decisions after the race, and we’ve done it all right after we pray together.
My mom always said “a family that prays together…stays together.” I see it now and have experienced it to be true.
Praying together before dinner as a family has created a bond with our host that I know will never be broken. If one person, just one is not at family dinner, it makes a huge difference and doesn’t feel right.
Beth and Bryan have taught us that family is safe and welcoming. A place you can be fully yourself without judgement. It’s understanding that it’s okay to agree to disagree at times. With family, you can cry and find support in time of need. Family means rather than becoming angry at one another, mutual respect and understanding are better responses. Family means never going to sleep upset with one another. Family is challenging one another to be more like Christ and holding one another accountable with godly advice. Family means being real, vulnerable and honest with one another.
Family is sooo much more too BUT family is ultimately rooted and grounded in loving each other like Christ loves the church.
Jesus gave His life up for the church, because of His love for us. Gosh… I want to live like that. I want to live a life loving the family God has put in my life to the best of my ability.
What’s your family dinner look like?
Have you ever spent time in prayer together as a family?
Do your actions and life reflect the love and time you invest in your family like Christ loves the church?
