Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend, especially you fathers. Al enjoyed his Father’s Day with family, going to church, having a picnic overlooking the lake, cards, candy, flowers and gifts. 
Devotions from Judy’s heart
How well would we say we know ourselves and where we come from? It is important not only to know our present family, but also our family of origin. Some people think that is a waste of time and block out their past, but how then can we integrate our past into our present life if we do that? In every family there are weaknesses and conflicts, but even when we distance ourselves from our family, we are more likely to repeat the weaknesses. Like the words above the Dachau concentration camp say: “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.
I grew up with a fun-loving grandma who, when she babysat us, would tell us stories of other relatives, especially our mischievous second cousins who were often in trouble. We couldn’t imagine how they got by, doing the things they did and one did end up in the penitentiary. We also had relatives that became pastors, doctors and nurses, etc., and we accepted the good along with the bad, as they were family. It is not good to block out our past, for when we marry, we combine the past of two families that will make up our future children’s lives as well. It is healthy to look at our family of origin, accept people as they were and deal with the consequences of their behavior affecting us now.
Some families are rigid and enmeshed, with members having a hard time to find their individual identity. Other families may be disengaged, distant and have little time for one another. Then there is the engaged family, with interaction among the members, a sense of security and self-worth. They come to know love and forgiveness and feel valued. We don’t need to condemn our family members, but appreciate our heritage. We can then come to understand and accept who they are, receiving them as a gift from God. Through examining the successes or failures of our family of origin, we can learn to grow beyond them into more Christ-likeness.
Challenge for today: Ask questions of your family of origin and see if there are questionable behaviors you have fallen into that you need help from the Lord to overcome.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy
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