Brothers and Sisters

"Verily I say unto you, There is no man hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, mother, wife, or children , or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses and brethren and sisters , and mothers and children, and lands with persecutions; and.       in the world to come eternal life, But many that are first will be last; and the last first."

      - St. Mark 10:29-31

     Today's blog is dedicated to the memory of my sister  
Gretchen Renee Williams January 30, 1961 - November 12, 2015

                                          

Dear Friends,

Brothers and Sisters... Some children grow up as an only child while others grow up with siblings, brothers/sisters.  I did not grow up as an only child.  My parents had four children, two boys and two girls.  When I reflect on our childhood years, there were a few note worthy squabbles.  However, the memory that rises above all others is that we loved each other. Still do.

I have come to know since the passing of my sister, that the void left by a sibling who has passed away can be fueled with an intense grief created by a voided expectation.  We lived together as children, grew up in view of one another and expected that we would grow old together. 

I  realize that this missing of my sister will remain with me.  Yet, the intense grief has been eased by knowing that as a member of the Body of Christ I have innumerable siblings who have prayed with and for me. Many have shown a measure of love that I could not have comprehended apart from the absence of Gretchen. The LORD'S strength made perfect in my weakness.  I marvel at the sufficiency of God's grace.

I realize the powerful impact of church family and the the awesome grace of God that has set the body of believers in place to love, support and encourage one another.  I thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 

       - I Corinthians 12:14-27

I praise God for you "the body of Christ, and members in particular."  My brothers and sisters, May God bless you!

in Christ,

Sis. Stephanie