Being a Family Man

Marriage has indeed changed me for the better in every aspect of my Christian life and human life. Surely, when God said it was not good for man to be alone, it definitely bears a connotation of perfecting a man. I believe there are precious lessons of life that a man can learn only in marriage. No mere teaching but lessons learned in practical family life over a period of time. In fact, the lessons intensifies and the learning maturised with children in the family. The Lord has been gracing and blessing me in my marriage life too. I have been learning more and more lessons as my children grows up and as my marriage life matures. I am gradually learning to be a family man!

Daily prayer and Bible reading have been one of our family life practices. Even when I traveled I did my best to still pray with my wife and all my children, one on one, and one by one. This is one of the best way I find to be in a faithful and good relationship with my own family members. And when I travel places, my heart has always been on getting the best I could to bring home back. Mostly, some eatables my children would love. Rarely I bought a souvenir. Once in a while, I bought special gift for my wife. Otherwise, I brought home back the "spoils from the battle fields," the best eatables from the "good land" the Lord led me to.

This time too, in Manila and Singapore, I took out time and went for shopping. Even as I did so, what occupied my mind was just my family. Not what I like, but I would think of what my wife, son, and daughters would like. So, I purchased variety of food items, local to the Phillipines, Singapore, and Taiwan and those stuffs that were not available in India. I loved to spend for my family and it was a joy to do so. As long as my wife and children are happy, I am happy, for my happiness is in their happiness. This is my simply "family-funda." Besides, the saints are in my mind and I would love to give them some gifts too, including the college students that I am serving. My heart is filled with saints, family, and people. The Lord has enlarged my heart so much. And He has also enlarged my capacity to meet the burden He bestowed upon me. Though I am naturally a person who does not like to go shopping, much less spending, now I have to, for the sake of my family and also the saints I care for. This is being human and also being God-man. More precisely, I am becoming more of a family man.

What a blessed human life! What a blessed family life! What a blessed church life! Complete lessons of this human life are learned in being a family man. 

Lord, thank You for my family! Lord, continue to bless my family! All these for the church life, for the building up of Your Body!