Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!  Today, hopefully you are eating turkey and fixings to your heart's content, maybe watching a little football, and definitely being with family.  As many of us gather this week with kinfolk near and far, I ponder the question, does Jesus have anything to say about dealing with difficult relatives and bringing peace to families who struggle getting along?  Yes, he does, and from his own experience. 

Jesus was not born into a vacuum or just descend from heaven.  Yes, believe it or not, Jesus had a family.  He had younger brothers and sisters.  As the gospel writer Mark wrote, Jesus was "just a carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon, and his sisters are here with us" (6:3).

I think it is safe to say that his family was less than perfect.  I'm not sure how much really they appreciated Jesus.  But still he didn't try to control them or make them all agree with him or make it his mission to please them.  So take heart if things don't go as smoothly as you would like with your family.  Enjoy them for who they are and give thanks to God for them, even if they drive you absolutely crazy!

Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.
-Mark 3:35

Prayer for Today 
Dear God, I pause for but a moment of silence just to revel in the spirit of gratitude for the imperfect gifts of family around me today.  Amen.
 

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