Family

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak at my brother-in-laws church and many of my family and extended family were there. It’s funny even though I speak often very rarely do I get a chance to go back home and see my family. Now this was a special occasion it was their third year pastoring in his church but this story is more about my sister Ella his wife. What you may not know is that I'm from a large family of 11 kids and Ella has been my strongest support in my Christian journey since the death of my mom many years ago. Three years ago Ella found out her liver was failing and was placed on a donor waiting list. After numerous treatments and many hospital stays Ella's liver was finally giving up, but during this period of time her love for God, her faith in God and her love for her family is what kept her strength. I remember one late night phone call when she was sharing with me her thoughts and feelings about dying and how she kept saying remember when mom would say "The darkest just before the storm and the hardest fight is just to keep holding on". Or remember when mom used to say "God may not come when you want Him but He's right on time". It was at that moment I realized how dear my family was to me. It was at that moment that the legacy that my mom has left in her children. After speaking my other sister Brenda got up to give closing remarks and during her remarks she turned to me and said “little brother I just want you to know mom would be proud”. Then my nephews comment to the congregation about the impact the family has had on his life and that is why he is in love with Jesus today and I guess what I’m really trying to say is that family matters. You see, it is family that knows you, where you have come from and where you have been. And its family that sticks behind you through the hard times and all life brings. And as I sat there and saw my family and heard the words they were saying to the rest of the congregation, even though there have been many ups and down and difficult times my family has always been and will always be there for me.