My "family"

This morning I woke up and read from Ephesians 5:11 which states, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."  I thought long and hard about these words.  I thought about all of the things being exposed through the Ashley Madison website hack.  I then heard news out of Virginia about reporters being shot on live TV.  I thought about all of the "secret lives" that are being exposed and how these "secret lives" eventually can lead to destruction.

But then I thought about those left behind.  The ones that are the victims.  The ones that through no fault of their own have now been dealt a life-altering blow. This will qualify as a traumatic experience in their lives and yet, they had no say.  I thought about all of the victims of our "sex-obsessed" culture.  I thought about the lives that get torn apart on a daily basis. I thought about the children who suffer at the hands of predators. I thought about the babies that are being murdered in the name of "choice."  And then I thought about my own life.

I thought about the redemptive power of Christ.  I thought about the fact that He, and only He can take a broken, abandoned, damaged person and make that person whole.  I thought about the healing power of Christ. I thought about how He can restore people. All of these lives have been dramatically changed and the answer to all that hurt is Christ.

And then I looked over my life.  I want to tell you some good things that have come from my past. I would never in a million years, wish my past on anyone. I cringe and get sick to my stomach when I hear about children being abused in any way, shape, or form.  But as God has worked in my life, He has brought beauty from the ashes of an abusive childhood.

I have been able to make family along the way. I have my family but it has never been your "typical" family. And so, at every stage of my life, God put people in my path to serve as "family."  If I started naming them all, my list would be long. I don't think I realized what I had when I had it; it has only been over the past few years that I have recognized this "family" of mine. I had the privilege of being people's regular babysitters and I would be able to be immersed in that family's life. I look at this as such a privilege. My view and my relationships with these families was so different than what others might experience.

I learned a couple of nights ago about the passing of someone in one of these families, Dr. John Gibson. This family holds such a special place in my heart. Him and Dr. Allen Jackson would work on my car, literally, all the time. I babysat for them. I did a ton of life with them. There were times during seminary that I spent more time with the Gibson's and the Jackson's then I did even in my own dorm room. My "family" during my time in seminary was pretty big and pretty special. I just cannot even put into words what this family meant to me.

As I have reflected all day over my life and all of my "family," especially Dr. Gibson, I can't help but think about how God has literally healed my wounds and patched up my scars.  Yes, what happened was horrible and evil but it does not define me.  My identity lies in who Christ is. I still have struggles, who doesn't? But I am also able to see how privileged I was to get to know people on such a deeper level. To God be ALL the glory.