The importance of FAMILY

Do you ever wonder why our families are so important to us? I mean really...According to evolutionists we're just evolved apes that have the ability to do cooler things, think way cooler thoughts, tie our shoe laces, and we're a little less hairy -- well some of us are, anyway.

But why do we place such an importance on our families, after all why do we need them after we are big enough to care for ourselves (i.e., gather our own food, clothing, and shelter)? Because that's how we were made by God. He's the one that placed us into the families that we were born into, and wired us so we would bond to and gravitate towards one another in extraordinary ways incomparable to monkeys -- Sorry to the folks at PETA that may disagree.

Now some of our "families" are far from ideal but the imprint for God's vision for the family remains. I have seen some that are crazier than mine and makes me want to run far away, as well as some that are close-knit that make me wish I could be adopted because the level of intimacy far surpasses what I have experienced in my own family life.

I am amazed by how entwined my wife and her parents really are. Yes, she married me and moved 13,000 miles from home to be with me here in Miami, but I know that part of her remains with her parents, even at this most difficult time. Both of her parents were recently diagnosed with cancer. Her mama was found to have breast cancer, had surgery, and was recovering then a little later her papa was rushed to the hospital and found to have colon cancer, spent many weeks in the hospital due to complications but is now up and about. Then we found out that her mama's breast cancer returned in her other breast along with other symptoms that bring her a lot of pain and is very uncomfortable for her.

Last evening, after speaking to her parents on the phone, my wife was distraught since her mama doesn't want to go for any follow-up treatments. Her mama feels that since nothing has worked so far, that she will simply wait to go to heaven when it's her time.

My wife and I talked, and then we cried about what to do, because although were far away we just don't feel that it's right to just give-up, you know. With her making 2 trips to the Philippines this year and all of the medical bills, our finances are very low right now. It's not simply a matter of money, but it's something that we must consider as we decide what we can do with regards to her mama's and papa's treatments.

Sure there are other considerations like our monthly bills, our jobs, and our local responsibilities so we're not sure how everything will work itself out, but we know that we should press on and do for her parents the very best that we can do, and not give up on helping them in their time of need. So, please pray for my wife and her parents (and for us) as we have to make critical decisions regarding their treatment and pray also for the provisions that we need, whatever that may be.

Bottom line, our families are important and they deserve our best, whatever that may entail.... If that were not so, then God would've left you as an orphan -- Instead of granting you the opportunity to become a child of God!