The Power of Family

By Pastor Di on 7/28/10

Many of you have heard the tales of our mini Australian Shepherd, Jack. Jack is sweet and fuzzy and extremely cuddly, and also sometimes a huge pain in the rear.  Since we are a family that is gone a lot, Jack has a lot of opportunities to get into trouble.  After some difficult debate, our family decided to find a better home for Jack.  I honestly did not think I would have a hard time with this decision.  After all, I am usually the one to clean up the accidents, fix the furniture that is chewed and bandage the ankles that have been nipped.  But when it came down to the morning of Jack’s last day with us, I began to get emotional.  I know he is just a dog and he is here for our enjoyment as a pet, but he has become, in spite all of his quirks, a PART OF THIS FAMILY.  For all of the work and inconvenience that Jack brings with him, one thing I can say about that dog; he is loyal to a fault.

When we arrived in Stanwood, to the 10 acre yard of his new home (and after crying the entire way there) I just couldn’t drive away.  I was steeling myself to drive away.  I was trying to be strong for my very sad children, and I was reminding myself of how much LESS work I would have.  But I just couldn’t do it.  Much to the great disappointment of Jack’s potential new owner, I tearfully told her I couldn’t leave him, rounded him back up in the car, and made the drive home.  (Incidentally I cried most of the way home at the thought of the potential new owner saying goodbye to Jack through her tears.  Ugh.) 

I determined I would not “over-spiritualize” this experience, but I couldn’t help but have a couple of realizations.  In a world where things are constantly changing and not many things are for certain, my family is something I will forever fight to protect and keep together.  And if Jack the dog is worth that much emotional energy and work, how much more are my relationships with my husband and kids?  I had this moment of re-committing myself to making sure our home and family is a safe and secure place in a world that is full of difficulty, pain and insecurity. But I also couldn’t help but think about the power of family.  My kids were trying so hard to be strong.  They kept saying that they wanted what was best for Jack; a big yard where he could run all day.  I think it was more upsetting for me to see the looks on their faces as they fought back tears and said “ok, we can leave him” than if they would have begged to keep him.  They were so unselfish in their love for him that they truly wanted the best for him.  I am crying again right now as I think about Brandon’s frantic phone call in the midst of trying to say goodbye to the dog.  His question was “Is it best for Jack to have a big yard to run in?  Or is it best for Jack to spend his life loving our three kids?”  Family is a powerful thing. True family love wants what is best and fights for it; even if it comes with pain and inconvenience.  I kept thinking on the way home about how grateful I am for my two families; my immediate family and my church family.  I think we all agree that this is how our immediate family SHOULD be, but I can’t help but think that this is how our church family should be too. Our Canyon Creek family should be a place of such strong love for each other, that we want what is what is best for each other, and will fight for and remain committed to each other; even in spite of pain and inconvenience.  My commitment to both my immediate family and my Canyon Creek family are serious commitments.  How are your commitments to your two families?

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