Family

Can you give parents enough credit? Nah, I don't think so. I mean, think of all they've done. Following the pregnancy and birthing process, neither a joke, they have to feed and clean you for oh-so-many years. Caribou young have to be up and running soon after they're born. We humans, by contrast, are more similar to the panda bear, weak and dependent for a long time.

Perhaps longer than we care to realize. In our age of independence and self-improvement, we like to think each of us is a pillar of granite, fiercely standing against the elements alone. The truth of the matter is that we have been created by God to live in community, in a shared dependence and acknowledgment of need.

I realize this every time I leave my family. I suppose if I didn't keep going home, I wouldn't have to leave so often, but anyway... My family is truly a blessing. Perhaps most important to my needs as a human is my sense of belonging. My identity is tied in very closely with my family. Of course, along with the 'belonging' comes the inevitable squabbles, complaints, and frustrations that are inherent to relationships. But I gladly accept the 'bad' along with the much greater good.

My recent journey across the country was made possible in part - now I sound like the credits after a show - by my parents. I should say a large part. My dad researched weather conditions, route, hotels, and other details extensively. Because he made the information available to me, I was able to relax and just enjoy the trip, rather than stopping to pull the map out, trying to find hotels, wondering what the weather was going to be like, etc. Thanks, Dad.

My mom gave me more food than I could possibly eat in a week. As a matter of fact, I ate very little of it, because sitting in a car all day didn't really make me hungry. I didn't even eat very much candy (as she'll be happy to know), and I even brushed my teeth (which she will also be happy to know). It's probably a good thing I didn't eat any of the canned stuff, because after the trip, I downed some of the stew, and, well, let's just say it proceeded through my digestive system rather rapidly. Not a good thing when you're driving. I did manage to melt the chocolate chips, because they were on the floor by the heater. I only melted a few, and of course they'll still taste the same (i.e. wonderful).

Then of course there's the sibs. It's often only after you leave that you remember how much you care about them. Realize that you are excited to see them grow, desire God to be active in their lives, enjoy seeing them succeed, and thinking about what cool people they are. Each in their own silly/crazy/absurd ways of course.

God certainly had a stroke of genius when he came up with the idea of family. Despite sin's marring influence, God enables us to love and to enjoy relationship.

The Carter family deserves an A+