As I say in the spiel, "About Me", I am the third child of four boys. Our parents worked hard for us all their careers, providing a stable and loving family atmosphere for us to grow up in; one of my favourite childhood memories is feeling so safe and cared for when my father would hold my chin in his large calloused strong hand and brush my hair as I looked up at him in admiration. As I aged I use to think how strange and rare it was when I heard of dysfunctional families. But I came to realise that maybe my family was the odd one out. Us four boys get on reasonably well, in fact I have lived with my older bro in his home for a number of years and mum and dad have been happily married for 53 years!
Of course family demographics change as we grow older. My parents are now getting close to 80, dad has serious health conditions and needs and mum has her own. My two older bro's have married and have families of their own while my younger has three daughters to a previous relationship. When I became a Christian at age 18 little did I know then that my family had grown exponentially. In Matthew 12:47-50 Jesus teaches that our family is far greater than that of biology. While in Matthew 25:35-40 we learn that our acts of hospitality and philanthropy go far beyond those we consider to be of our own family. An act that can be seen when J.C. goes out of his way to meet a Samaritan woman, a race of people that the Jews did not traditionally mix with, in John 4:1-26.
For me family also consists of fellow bikers. Having grown up around cars and bikes, a direct influence of my older brother and dad, I have naturally combined my passion for riding loud Harley's with my faith and am involved in the ministry of God's Squad. The 1%er biker culture has a strong emphasis on family, referring to each other in their clubs as brothers and a brotherhood. So I guess my question to you is who makes up your family? Is it just those in your immediate circle of life or those who reciprocate acts of kindness and respect? Or are you a person of character and fortitude, like J.C., who looked past the exterior labels society places on each of us and accepted people with their faults n all, but through his words and actions impacted their lives so greatly that they were changed drastically and came to see and accept that family and its love and support is far wider than we traditionally think of.
Scott, my "little" younger bro, David, my oldest bro, Dad, my role model, Mum, my encourager and Peter my older bro. Keepin' Up With The Jones'...
