Birthday reflections: growing up with God (Luke 2)

What was your family like growing up?

It's my birthday today and I have just spent some time reflecting over what the past year has looked like for me. It has been a good one, a year of healing and moving forward in good and positive ways. My marriage has been greatly improved as well as my quality of life. I also find myself reflecting on the home and family I was born into. There is a real blessing for me in this family of mine. I was raised in a home where I was encouraged to encounter God at an early age and to know of his love through the love of my parents.

I think about the stories in Luke chapter 2. Jesus is born heralded by the angels the shepherds come to give him worship and Mary holds these things in her heart. At the appropriate age Jesus is taken to the temple to be dedicated. Two young parents raising their child with the intention of him knowing God. They are met by two old prophets who speak of who Jesus will become and Mary holds these things in her heart.

Luke then informs us, Jesus grew in strength, wisdom, and in favor with both God and man. What would it have been like if Jesus had been born to a family who did not love God and who did not care to raise their child to know God? Obviously God knew whom he was choosing to give his son too. And while there was an incident of Jesus staying behind in Jerusalem when he was twelve and completely stressing his parents out for three days he returned to Nazareth with them and lived in obedience to them. It is a good thing to be in a home where obedience to mom and dad is also obedience to God.

Sometimes we shun the idea of a Christian upbringing or a Christian home. The children are two sheltered or narrow minded. Of course they believe in God they were raised that way. If they were raised in a Buddhist home they would believe in Buddha. Be that as it may, I am grateful today for my Christian home and my Godly parents. I observe my life has been better because of it and I am grateful on this day of my birth.

May you find yourself in a home filled with God today whether by the choice of your parents or of your own choice. May we know we are held in the heart of God.