RIGHT NOW...CLOSE YOUR EYES FOR A MOMENT...
PICTURE YOUR CHILDHOOD PAPERMATE 'PINK PEARL' ERASER...
THAT SPECIAL SCENT IT HAD...EVEN HOW IT TASTED UPON NIBBLING...
AND HOW MUCH YOU USED IT TO FIND YOUR 'FRESH START'.
The famous childhood pink eraser. Yes ! We all know it well. Throughout the history of elementary education, the pink eraser is on the ‘supply list’ for students everywhere. Children love that bouncy, chewable, bright colored friend. We know boo-boos and mistakes will be made, and we prepare for it.
Because blended family parents are normal, we make mistakes too. We sometimes feel banged up, beat up emotionally, and believe in the 'lie' that we can't go on, and are failing. We seem to struggle to find answers to life’s most important questions. We feel like 'man...we need a fresh start' or perhaps it would be great to say ‘where’s an eraser, I goofed up.’
The answer to that is in the pictures above and below...and God’s message for you at the end.
For Rebecca and I, our life and experience leads us to share with you that there are indeed second chances and correct answers. Often those correctable errors come after we have made mistakes or stumbled along life’s path. All of us deserve and need an ‘eraser’ once and a while. Jesus Christ is that ‘eraser’. He came that we might have a new start, a new life, an eraser and corrected path.
Once we realize we have made mistakes, and submit ourselves to the love and obedience of Christ, we can find the answers, the ideas, concepts, our provision and precepts in the Bible and in prayer. Trust that God is bigger than the challenge one is facing. The Word of God must be on our own ‘supply list’ as children of God.
Many times in our society today God is the 'last place' people turn. It is interesting how only when our lives, our nation, a job, a relationship or family member is on the line...do people then turn to God. We then are deeply in need of an ‘eraser’ and want to start over.
A recent Kansas City Star newspaper poll found that 91% of there readers said 'they believe in God', but only 28% go to church regularly. People know God exists...but place Him on the shelf for when He is needed. Not trusting God is kind of like having an M-16 rifle in your tent, and charging the enemy hill with a slingshot. We say... use the darn firepower if you want to win the battles.
At The Bonded Family, we are trying to help blended families reverse the trend of making ‘looking to God’ as being the last reach. We say "go first and go often".
In our workshops and conferences people come to us with stories that encourage us that through our own examples and stories they were 'renewed', they erased the old ways, and start each day anew.
We accept that some people quickly tune out our faith-based message and say "I am out of here...not going to listen to this God thing... Hey pal I have real problems!" To those I ask read on, let me share documented and proven research that is not from us. Statistics exists that the divorce rate hovers at 50%, whether non-believer or even yes, evangelical Christians. But check this out... time and time again studies (i.e. Barna Group) have shown that a husband and wife who pray daily or regularly together... the rate is below 10%. Below 10%! Is that a powerful weapon in the battle for victory or what??
As a Father to six children in a blended family, I would not be truthful if I didn't share that I have done and said some real bonehead things, I needed an ‘eraser’, a fresh start some days. We all have.
Our human nature simply is incapable of not doing or saying things we would like to then have a 'do-over' chance. I am thankful to be able to receive and seek forgiveness where appropriate and needed. That the 'do-over' and eraser period is the next day.
The eraser can leads us to the FRESH START, most mistakes can be erased, and the new and correct answers are available. We share in our blended family ministry that the Lord should be the FOUNDATION and the ROCK of every family. The very basic importance is that only God can create the unique and special bond in a blended family.
God does allow step-families - the parents and children - to have a fresh start daily. It's in His promise...the Word of God. God does promise you a 'new morning'. He is faithful. Stop beating yourself up and accept the 'new morning'.
Scripture shouts out to you every morning when we see the sun rise anew.
Each morning…look at the sunrise and remember…
We are blessed by the message of Lamentations 3 : 21-23 the following.
ONCE AGAIN...CLOSE YOUR EYES...PICTURE A WONDERFUL SUNRISE
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3 : 21-23
God’s mercy, love and grace are indeed new every morning. For you and your blended family.
Think of that pink eraser, and the morning sunrise, next time you need some encouragement.
God is there…for you and your family.
Dan and Rebecca Snell are Co-Founders of The Bonded Family, a ministry to Blended Families. They help churches with outreach to one of the largest and growing demographic in our nation, step-families. They are available for speaking to groups, Sunday Schools, and Workshops and Conferences. Their message for blended families is one of Encouragement, Hope and Motivation…all based on Bibles message, discovered and fully experienced through 11 years together with six children – yours, mine and ours – in their own Blended Family.