“But Lord, your endless love stretches from one eternity to the other, unbroken and unrelenting toward those who fear you and those who bow facedown in awe before you. Your faithfulness to keep every gracious promise you’ve made passes from parents, to children, to grandchildren, and beyond.” Psalm 102:28
“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.” Psalm 128:1-6
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31
“God is pleased when a family unit works together collectively in their respective roles as mother, father and children.” Psalm 133:1
General Reflections:
Through marriage, God brings men and women together to create brand-new families (Genesis 2:23). He gives children as a gift (Psalm 127:3). And through Jesus Christ, God makes a way for all of us to be part of His eternal family (1 John 3:1a).
The family is the masterpiece of God’s Creation. Marriage and parenthood reveal God’s character. God puts children in families so they can experience His love and learn how to love others.
It is within the context of family life that we are meant to experience God’s love (through our parents) and learn how to love others. Therefore, parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another.
God’s gift to the family is so precious because it is the institution to which His grace comes to deliver us from that sinful pride, from a life lived in the bondage of self. That is why He gives us our family.
Our family is the sweet fruit of love of our parents, blessed by God. Therefore, we should thank God for our family; our ancestors, grandparents, parents, spouse, children, grandchildren and beyond.
Personal Reflections:
Do you believe that your family is a gift from God and He has great plans for your family and your children?
How do you make your family an institution from which grace comes for the benefit of its members and others?
In what ways do you express your home as a domestic church? Do you pray regularly as a family? Is your home a place where love, joy peace, generosity, forgiveness, mercy, compassion and trust are expressed and enjoyed by everyone?
In what ways do you exercise you sacred duties as parents in rearing for your children? How do you inspire them to grow in their faith and their relationship with God? How do you inspire them to be loving and caring people?
How do you and your love ones experience God’s love, joy and peace in your family? How about in your extended families? How do you relate with your siblings and their own respective families?
In what ways do you thank God for your family, your ancestors, great grandparents, grandparents, parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, siblings and relations?
Do you continue to be grateful to your parents who have already died? Do you remember them at least on their birthdays, death anniversaries and on All Souls Day?
Do you pray regularly for their souls? Or have you forgotten them?
How do you show your gratitude to your parents who are still alive? In what ways do you care for them? If they live separately from you, do you visit them regularly? Do you regularly check on their welfare and needs?
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