Family Enlarged

Under the Lord's sovereignty, my sister's daughter came to stay with us for her education. This brought in a very well knit family tie within our family, especially within my sibling. As we stay together as a family for a couple of months now, the Lord reminded me of my need to be enlarged and be broad-hearted in shepherding. Through the Lord's mercy, we are blended together as one family and we, me and my wife, reckon my sister's daughter as our own too, adding to the three the Lord already blessed us with. She being elder than our own children, we have reckon her as our "eldest daughter" and the rest should look up to her as such. With this new blessing, we are now a family of four children.

Humanly speaking too, it is justified for me to reckon her as my eldest daughter as my sister had lost her husband when her only begotten daughter was just about five months old. Subjectively, she never knew what a daughter is to her father and never had any opportunity to call any one "daddy." In blood relation I am her uncle yet I would rather that she take me as her "dad" and I treat her as my "daughter" as I do to the other two daughters. To this effect I have fellowshipped with my wife, my burden and educated our children to consider her as their eldest sister. 

In fact, I also fellowshipped in our family time that I accepted her as my daughter and that she reckon me as her dad. This is a comfort to my sister as she cares for her daughter so much and would do anything for her well being. Thus from all angle, it is deemed she be our eldest daughter and be organically a member of our family too.This is our family enlarged, and the Lord's blessing.

Still learning to be a father to my own children, and with this addition, I am learning more lessons of life. Personally, I prefer life to grow and develop on its own, and in time we will learn what all are needed to learn. Life matters are not taught and learned, but are experienced and learned. So we embarked on a journey of life to learn and learn, learn of the Lord. 

Thank you Lord for the added grace, extended blessing and a new member into our family. As You enlarged our family, so also enlarge our heart to love and care as You would.