How Will They Know?


Well, it happened. You know, that day that you knew would come. I’m so thankful that we thought ahead and were ready.

We have an extended family, by choice. Our grandson, Crew, has 2 brothers. When the first was born, we told his mommy that we wanted to be “Grammie” and “Papa” to him and any other babies she and her husband had. We weren’t interested in being just Crew’s Grammie and Papa when it came time for fun visits or slumber parties. I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving a little boy, sad that his older brother was going somewhere he couldn’t.

This Grammie isn’t equipped to keep brothers apart. I can’t even write the words that could have been said to explain his being left behind, with words like “half” and “step” used to diagram the relationships.

Thankfully, they’ll never be said.

Over the last couple of weeks, this commitment to be a family has paid large dividends. Crew wanted to come over and one of his younger brothers asked if he could come, too. Of course!

When the well-being of children is put before adult relationships, everyone wins. It is so fun to have more grandkids in our home and to watch these cousins share life!

There is much more to this story, but it all began when I made a commitment to love Crew’s mommy for the rest of my life; when I chose to make her my own and to love her unconditionally forever, as I do my son, Crew’s daddy. As if she were my own, I looked past anything that could have permanently separated us, as I do Crew’s daddy. We talked and found more common ground than not, just like I do with Crew’s daddy.

Our world grew larger and our hearts grew larger. The love and thankfulness that are bursting forth from within me now, come from allowing love to win.

The day may come that Crew’s daddy marries and our family will expand further. If so, I’ve been praying for that gal since she was born and I know she’ll be able to slide right into this family’s loving arms.

We’re obviously into multiplying and not dividing.

Life gets crazy. Love anyway.

People are crazy. Love anyway.

People either don’t agree or don’t understand. Love anyway.

Find a way.

Remember when your parents told you to do something “because I said so”? Well, He asks us to love one another. We don’t have to always like it or always understand it, but maybe we should just do it, because He said so.

 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” –John 13:34-35

As I prepare to tell 2015 “See ya’!”, my house is strewn with snow gear, books, toys and games. It’s noisy and full of people. I wouldn’t have it any other way! Next week, it’ll be clean, quiet and empty and I’ll find myself missing the fullness of it all. If you have a complicated family structure, I hope you’re choosing to love your way through it all, too. Because He said so and because He knows what He’s doing.

God bless you as you ring in the New Year!