Earlier this month, I took a day to enjoy rafting on the New River with my brother Wayne who was celebrating his 79th birthday. We were joined on this fun excursion by his daughters Christine and Beth and my son David. It was simply a fabulous time of delighting in each other and God’s creation … and getting very wet! I know that we are extremely blessed to have the freedom and the ability to partake in these kinds of family outings. They are special times of memory making and bonding.

I encourage you to intentionally create opportunities to spend as much time with your family members as possible. Billy Graham once noted that, “The family was ordained by God before He established any other institution, even before He established the church.” Clearly, God thinks that families are of primary importance in our lives. To be able to thrive in a healthy family situation is one of the profound blessings in life. Think about it, your relationships with your family, especially your siblings, should be the most enduring in your lifetime.

My hope is that as this summer continues, you are able to spend meaningful days with your families, both biological and spiritual, to enjoy the privilege God bestows upon us. Enjoy the rest of this July, and may God draw closer to you, as you take the time to draw close to Him too through fellowshipping with family!

Connecting with Family this Summer,

Steve