Read this quote on a friend’s Facebook page today. “If you focus on gratitude, you will feel grateful. If you focus on those who love you, you will feel loved. If you focus on those you love, you will feel loving. If you focus on the times you’ve felt joy, you will feel joyful,” Dr. Daniel Amen. I love this!

I’m feeling joyful as my McMurray family is getting ready to gather at vet brother’s house for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. I love these family gatherings, watching our grandchildren run around happily with their cousins, their parents laughing and enjoying being with their cousins, and we older ones feeling fortunate and grateful for our families and the blessing of all being together for another holiday. We have the best time telling stories of our youth, laughing till we lose our breath. And we strap our food bags on and enjoy a scrumptious meal. I’ve cooked collards, made a chocolate cake, a pecan pie, and am getting a ham ready for the oven. Everybody brings something and it’s all delicious. All us women folk are worn out but it’s a happy, joyful tiredness.

The Bible says God defines a family as people related by name, blood, or adoption. Our families are the foundation of society. Biblical scripture speaks of the importance of maintaining family bonds. “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of the children.” God gave us families as a source of love, support, and strength. He told us to be fruitful and multiply and to live together in harmony. Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

Our families support us throughout our lives. They help us feel secure, give us a shared identity as we pass down experiences and values for generations. Families give us a place to belong. Families offer emotional support, comfort and courage when we face difficult times. Scripture refers to God as a “Heavenly Father” and we as “children of God,” all part of God’s spiritual family. When we accept Jesus as our Lord we become a member of God’s family. “But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name,” John 1:12.

As our Heavenly Father, God wants us to trust in the plan he has for our life. He wants to hear our prayers and give us support and peace, and when we’re burdened with darkness he wants to light our path. Psalm 119:105, states “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God wants us to live obediently to his words and teach our children about his gospel.

Just as a child trust their parents, we can trust in God’s plan for our lives. He’s going to take us home to paradise.

“The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.” — Eva Burrows