We have arrived at that time of the year when much thought is given to the family, when people get together for festivities, are more willing to forgive, and love is a much talked about topic. And today I will bring a reflection on where our real attention should be focused: the family.
How is your relationship with your family? Many times, caught up in our own thoughts and tasks, we end up leaving those we live with in second place. Yesterday I even watched a very interesting movie called “Christmas in 8 Bites”, which is exactly about this. The story begins with the daughter really wanting a Christmas present, so her father decides to tell her how he got the video game he wanted so much when he was a child, but his parents could not give him.
I beg your pardon, but in this text I will tell you the ending… so the father follows an hour of film telling an involving story about the miraculous plans made by him and his friends. His daughter gets very excited thinking that at some point will come time for the father then get the long-dreamed-of gift, as well as the viewer.
But when it comes to the end of the story, guess what happens? He doesn’t get what he wanted and has a very interesting dialogue about the time he missed having with his family and everyone around him because of his obsession to get what he wanted. The girl’s grandfather and our protagonist’s father had invited his son numerous times to build a tree house, but he was so focused on the toy that he cared little about it. In the film we see other complications like the fact that he almost lost his sister in a mall when his parents asked him to keep an eye on her for a moment.
What you are missing
Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. – Proverbs 17:6
The movie led me to reflect on what we are missing out on as we let our goals blind us. Maybe it’s your child’s childhood, precious time with your family, conversations with your parents and grandparents… in short, there are so many things we can lose by our self-imposed false priorities. Today I want you to remember that more than filling your house with “stuff” and your family with gifts, the most important thing is to be present.
Your family is a project of God, don’t lose it! The enemy wants to destroy homes and this doesn’t happen overnight. I am tired of going to restaurants and seeing entire families on their cell phones, checking social networks and forgetting to live that precious moment that they could have together. Is this a cliché? Yes, because unfortunately it is a truth that we are tired of knowing and living.
Another reality is that of parents who want to give their children everything, but don’t give them the main thing: their time! The same happens with the inverse, children who want so much to receive love from their parents, but care little about giving love to them. We cannot let these things happen, we need to be present, and this is what God expects from us, to value those around us. Think about the trajectory of Jesus, the son of man who gave the most gifts in history and do you know how he did it? Not by giving gold and silver, but by giving his time to each of those who crossed his path.
A heavenly family
Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you”. “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” – Mark 3:31-35
The end of the year can be a delicate time for many, especially in a year like this one, where recently so many have lost loved ones. So I want to say to you who believe that you don’t have a family: you have your one family! Even if your parents are not here and have all left you, there is a loving Father who will never leave you, and a heavenly family to which you belong.
You also need to dedicate your time to this family and this Father. We expect so much from our Lord, but what has been our commitment to Him? Think about it and be honest with yourself. Time is the greatest gift we can give to our families, remember this.
God bless you!
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