Born in a Barn: Jesus’ Messy Home — Thursday
Colossians 3:13
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (NLT)
My dad was the most humble man I’ve ever known. He was a man of few words, but his life spoke volumes. As news about his passing in January 2021 began to spread, our family started receiving messages on Facebook, texts, emails, and calls from those who knew him. The comments poured in: Great man. Kind. Godly. Servant. True gentleman. Gentle soul. A fine man. A sweet man. The nicest man. A treasure. Special. A wonderful man. Humble. On and on the comments went. Honestly, hearing all of that would embarrass him. At his funeral, I had the honor of talking about his life and impact. I said, “Isn’t it amazing how such a quiet man could make such a profound impact on people? It’s proof that you don’t have to make a lot of noise to make a lasting impression.”
I was blessed to have the opportunity to know my grandparents as I grew up. Hearing that we were going to see Granny and Papaw, or that they were coming for a visit, was always something joyful to look forward to. Both my parents loved their parents and treated them with great respect. But I would later learn from an extended family member that my dad experienced a difficult childhood. His mother—clearly hurting in her own way, with her own story of brokenness—had not always treated my dad well. My dad went to his grave never having said anything about this to me or anyone I know. He called his mother every single Sunday as I was growing up. It’s very clear that my dad didn’t want us to feel anything but love and appreciation for our grandmother. I’m sure the only way he could get to that point was by humbly forgiving her. I’m not sure exactly how he got there, except that, as a man of faith, he understood the extent to which he had been forgiven. My dad couldn’t choose how his life began, but he clearly chose how it would end—with no resentment. He chose not to let his own family experience impact ours. As a result, he set a new family legacy in motion.
Thursday’s Reflection
Jesus carried the weight of His family’s dysfunction to the cross and forgave. Let Him carry yours there as well.
