HARD

Even when it's hard ... 

I officiated at a wedding today.  Beautiful moments.  One of the best things about it all was that the couple is so committed to Christ that it just overflows from every pore of their lives.

The reason I mention that is because not every wedding seems to have that particular glow.  I will confess to some personal sadness and deep grief over marriages that are short-lived and from the start there were hints that it might be.  You try to give your counsel and even some gut-level honesty about what seems transparent to everyone but the happy couple, but those moments, I admit, leave me feeling empty and sometimes even devastated later on.

You are not in your family for the short run.  You're there for the long haul -- with all the imperfections, bumps and warts.

You and your family might be tested -- your finances may be -- your future may be -- your parenting may be -- your children may test you.

But you have a faith in Christ.  That's what you and I live by -- even when it's hard -- especially when it's hard.

'There will come a time in your life when you will be sustained by whatever it is you believe."

Because there will come a moment in your life when you will be sustained by whatever it is you believe, and if you're circumstances dictate what you believe rather than your faith dictating that, if you believe you can't make it, you won't make it.

But if your faith in God says you can make it, you can make it.

Don't give up on your family.  Be all in -- for the long run marathon of it.  Live by that.

And be blessed.