As the
saying goes, you can choose your friends but not your family. While at a women’s conference at my church
recently I was reminded that Jesus Christ’s lineage began with Rahab, a
prostitute who was redeemed through her faith.
Hearing this story was very timely as I navigated feelings and emotions
after learning that my biological father, with whom I have been estranged for
the past thirty five years, had a stroke and his prognosis was grim and dire. Not that I am comparing my family tree to
Jesus’ by any stretch of the imagination, however, the past couple of days have
provoked some serious soul searching. In
contemplating my thoughts, I do not want nor is it my place to judge him or
anyone for that matter because I realize my glass house would not withstand any
reciprocated judgment. I was reminded at
the conference; however, that what I am called to do is be the hands, feet and
love of Christ to a hurt, broken and dying world.
At the
conference, one of the speakers said that we could have been
born at any point in time but God selected this day and age for our existence
because he predestined a task for us; we have a purpose and a mission to bring
glory to God’s kingdom. I have long
dreaded this day, the day when I would face my biological father’s mortality
and any potential decisions and responsibilities that ensued. Just as God preordained my existence, His
hand is all over this situation. I could
have been born to anyone, at any time, to a “perfect” family with storybook
interactions and marriages where everyone lived happily ever after. Had that happened though, I would not have
been able to look into the teary eyes of a wife whose marriage is in despair,
pray for a daughter whose relationship with her father is severed, and truly,
honestly and from the bottom of my heart say “ I understand what you’re going
through.” See, I believe we go through
the trials and tribulations that we do so that we can hold the hand of someone
and help them see through the forest of desperation and heartache.
Facing the
challenges of the past couple of days, I realize the events are playing out
just as they were intended. No other
point in time would I have been able to offer the mercy, forgiveness and love
of Jesus to pray for my biological father.
I did not realize, know or fathom until now that God was healing and preparing
me, at my paternal grandmother’s funeral, at the women’s conference just this
past weekend, etc., for this exact moment in time. I am truly absorbing into my soul that, where
we began is not as important as where we end.
A race’s finish line would not be as gratifying had we not previously
put in the hard work of training and actually running the race; a trophy for
participation, without sweat, is not as sweet.
So, again I
say, you cannot choose your family…but perhaps the question is not who God
entrusts us to, per se, as much as
who He entrusts to us.
