Happy Valentines Day! Relationships take center stage this month on Perfection Road. Last week, messy relationships made an about-face. This week, I handed the pen to my 13-year-old grandson Jackson. His greatest gift is seeing what others often miss. I asked him to describe the impact his two adopted brothers make on his family, and he did not disappoint.
As you read Jackson’s words, consider what Paul had to say about being adopted by God. May we all exude this kind of joy in our relationships and foster togetherness within our own family of believers.
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.â€Â (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT)
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Remarkable Relationship
Jackson Ellis
My two adopted brothers have built great relationships with my family. They bring us so much joy and laughter and have brought the whole family together. One can see why adopting my brothers was such a great decision.
My family decided to adopt a little boy from China about seven or eight years ago. His name is Benjamin. That was the best decision of our lives, tied with the decision to adopt Myles last year from Taiwan. Those two kids have brought our family together in a big way. I don’t even have a clue what life would look like without them.
Benjamin has become one of my best friends over the years. We have lots in common. We both love sports, legos, and video games. However, we do have our differences. For example, my favorite color is green, his is orange. He loves hotdogs, and I hate them.
Myles and I have built an excellent relationship as well. I enjoy having fun with him. I like to give Myles rides on my shoulders, toss the ball with him, and jump on the trampoline together. It’s always fun teaching Myles to learn new things.Â
Myles and Benjamin have also made a huge effect on the whole family. Ben holds the family together with his patience and self-control. Without him everyone might be arguing all the time. And Myles has brought very much laughter and joy to everyone. As a family we have grown closer to God together. Benjamin loves reading his Bible, and also loves to ask other people what they think heaven will be like. And Myles has already learned to pray. Myles and Ben have made a great effect on our family.Â
This shows why adopting Ben and Myles was such a great decision. They have built wonderful relationships with our entire family. They bring us so much joy. They have also made great relationships with God. In the future, Ben and Myles will make many more wonderful relationships.
“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.†(Ephesians 2:19-21 NLT)
