Family gatherings can be beautiful or ugly. Most of us have either heard or been involved in a wedding reception that turned into a drunken brawl, and funerals often bring together people who don't particularly like one another but cannot figure out how to not attend without losing face. Emotions are raw at both of these events, which bring out the best and the worst in people.
Family reunions are in a similar category. I've often wondered why some families even bother. The various branches of the family sit with their own immediate circle that they see all the time, without so much as speaking more than a cursory "How ya doin'" to those in the other branches of the family. What's the point of a reunion if no one re-unifies?
Linda and I, along with our kids and grandkids drove to Churchville for the Bailey family reunion today. Two nephews and two nieces weren't able to be there. But my brother, sister, mother and aunt, and one cousin, along with spouses and children had a wonderful time together, talking and laughing with those we are only able to see occasionally. Everyone gets along! We actually like one another and enjoy each other's company.
The reason is not hard to find. We are all Christians, and not just in name. Every one of us takes seriously what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. We represent variations on the theme, from Baptist to Free and United Methodist to Roman Catholic. Along the way, my parents dabbled in Christian and Missionary Alliance, but our common ground is lives centered in knowing and following the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't argue the differences in our respective faith branches; instead we focus on our love for God and for each other, which makes for delightful family reunions and much thankfulness tonight.
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