I thought of Hillary Clinton's premise that it takes a village to raise a child - and I think she missed the mark, slightly. It takes a family, an extended family, with values share in common. Wednesday night we went to the funeral home. As we visited with her descendants, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family came through. A son's neighbor mentions a trip to Ruth's when they lived out of state, relishing the memory of her apple dumplings. A church member who served with her for years spoke of her kindness. A son-in-law admiring how sharp her mind remained. Each one at the viewing had a memory to share. Quite a few mentioned her cooking.
We sat and chatted, surrounded by the fragrance of cut and potted flowers, too many varities to list, accompanied by cards carrying emotions too often left unexpressed until a funeral.
Don't wait to tell them. Say it now. Enjoy your extended families, the ones you were born into, married into and joined with in the body of Christ.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. [1 Corinthians 12:27]
That, my friends, is the best community in which to raise a child - the community of love.
Oh how I wish I had a family I could love and appreciate for their goodness. I pray that what my husband and I are doing now, being true First Generation Christians in that we are the first to truly practice Christianity-not just claim it- we will give our girls and generations after them the gift of a good extended family. :)
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