Familiarity

My daughter sent me a text.
She asked me if she could stop over to get a couple of folding chairs.
She and her husband are hosting a small group of people from church.
She is serving dinner and knew that she would need the extra chairs.

She told me an approximate time that she and her husband would be over.
It will probably be after 9:00 when our small group Bible study is over, she texted.
Perfect. I’m here, was my response.
I had a new book I wanted to begin; my book, a cup of tea and my comfy chair were my plans.

Around 10:00, I sent her a text.
Still coming?
We are just leaving now; we will be right there if that’s still OK, she answered.
I’m here, I answered as I turned the page in my book.

Since they were close to our house, they arrived soon after.
They came in through the garage, knowing the garage door code.
After hugs and hello, her husband went upstairs to the hall closet.
He knew where the folding chairs were; he also knew that we have folding tables as well.

Mom, can we borrow the small card table to have more room? She asked.
Of course, take whatever you need, I said and meant it.
Do you think I can borrow one of our table cloths? She added.
Whatever you need, I said, as I followed her into the living room.

When you’re newly married, there are the little extras you just have not accumulated yet.
She knew that the tablecloths were in the antique chest that belonged to my aunt.
She knows in which drawer she will find them.
She knows the different tablecloths we have and knew exactly the one she wanted to use.

Since my daughter and her husband are teachers, they go to bed early on a week night.
I knew this was not going to be a long visit.
This is always home.
This home is always open to my children, whatever the time.

My daughter-in-love knows that, too.
However, it took a little time before she really knew it.
When she dated my son and then when she was engaged to him, it was different.
Mama G, can I get a snack? She would ask so sweetly.

Honey, this is home; whatever you need, you may have, I reminded her.
It took a while for her to feel that she could freely take whatever she needed in the kitchen.
That kind of familiarity takes time.
It warms my heart that she knows where everything is and truly knows she has access to it.

This is my family.
My family knows what is in all the drawers, and the cabinets, and the refrigerator.
That is a line that none of us would cross in a home that was not our family.
There is an unwritten code of ethics and propriety that is usually followed.

I teach Bible study in my home.
Some of the women have been coming to this study for years.
My home is familiar to them.
Some women are new to the study and do not have the same level of ease.

One of the women, who has been part of the Bible study for years, talked about this fact.
I always have coffee and tea for the women and bake something for them as well.
She got her plate and napkin but did not see the forks I had in a crock.
She opened my silverware drawer and grabbed a fork.

She laughed about it as we sat at my kitchen island.
I didn’t see the disposable forks but I knew where your real forks were, she said.
She does know and it is perfectly fine.
There is familiarity.

My husband called the toll-free number of a company that comes out to remove junk.
It wasn’t junk we needed moved, rather some exercise equipment and woodworking equipment.
We gathered together a few other larger things since the men were coming anyway.
They worked hard, lifting the heavy equipment up the back basement stairs.

My husband brought them into the kitchen to pay them and to give them bottled water.
I was cooking our meal and a meal for someone else that day.
I also made two batches of brownies.
It smells really good in here, one of the young men said.

My husband handed the young men their water.
Would you like some brownies to go with that water? I asked them.
We sure would, they both said together.
My sons could always eat three brownies; how about you? I said with a smile.

Three would be great, they said as they took their paper plate with three large brownies.
The two young men would never come into my kitchen and just take the brownies.
They had never been here before.
Remarking about the wonderful aroma was enough of a hint, without crossing the line.

 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:10-18)

My Father and your Father, My God and your God.
What comforting words Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene.
Jesus’ death and resurrection made those words possible.
Because Jesus rose again, the demonstrative pronoun, your, can now be used.

God the Father has become OUR Father only because of Jesus.
We now have familiarity that we did not have before.
Jesus promised that He is going to prepare a place for us.
Everything He has is ours if we are in Christ.

We have access to the Father.
We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)
We have the Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13,14)
We have familiarity with God the Father because of Jesus.

We can ask for anything in prayer in accordance with His will.
We have salvation in Christ when we trust in Him alone.
We have a place in heaven.
We have a home for all eternity with Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Oh, to be familiar with God the Father through Jesus, His Son.
All those things are ours.
In Christ, receiving those things and claiming those things is never crossing the line.
We are His and we are part of God’s family.

Amen.

2 responses to “Familiarity”

1. No matter what our earthly family has been like, we know as Christians that being part of God’s family is the most wonderful blessing we could ever have! May all those who have had problematic earthly families look to God as our Father who loves us so much that He sent His own Son to save us so we can live in heaven with Him for all eternity–as part of a perfect family of God.

   Reply

   • Sue,
     What a gift we have been given to be able to call God our Father because of Jesus.
     Gina

     Reply