Welcome my friend! I thought we would reflect upon our loved Ones & how our hearts can hurt for them when difficulties impact their lives through unexpected circumstances & what we can do to help.

First, let’s grab our cuppa’s, treat & get comfy before we begin.

I’m enjoying a gf Coconut Macaroon with a mug of Chai Latte this morning, both delicious! What are you having?

Our Family

Hubby & I have a large combined family, we have six daughters between us plus their spouses plus 12 grandchildren, one grandson in law & are expecting our first great grandchild!

So you can see we have a very big immediate family not including extended family.

We are both retired, so we have time to reflect upon life together & do this often over breakfast, morning tea or on our walks by the waterfront.

We dearly love every individual in our combined family & each unique family unit within it.

We’ve watched our respective daughters grow into their own lives with their own families & navigate life as best they can.

We are now watching our older grandchildren enter adulthood & navigate life in the lifestyles they’re choosing to live.

When circumstances impact our families

One thing I’ve learnt in the decades I’ve been on planet Earth is that life has a habit of throwing unexpected circumstances our way, while some come completely out of left field others, sadly, some from the consequences of unwise choices.

As we go through life we can learn a great deal from both sets, if we are willing.

Those of us who choose to learn these lessens from the hard yards of life have what’s called life experience & yes this often culminates in a certain amount of wisdom.

Life wisdom

I think the most difficult thing for any of us to have to do is watch our families face difficult & often heartbreaking circumstances.

Our instant reaction is to take action, often jumping straight in to help.

But this isn’t always the wisest nor necessarily the most welcomed course of action to take. For our help may need to take another form.

This is where we need to Pause…

There’s an old saying which is quite sobering & it goes like this (paraphrased);

‘ The unwise often rush in where Angels fear to tread…’

The original quote by Alexander Pope c. 1711

The meaning of this gem is that when dealing with other’s, even our families, we need to be very wise.

And consult God in what type of help we give, what it may look like & the boundaries of it.

Wisdom is to Pause before we act or react…

Why the Pause?

Because if we unwisely rush in to ‘help’ we may get in God’s way to do His work in the situation.

Many years ago I read a book on Wisdom by Dr Larry Lea, it was on God’s wisdom.

The most poignant gem from that book which has stayed with me all these years is the following;

‘…As long as you are holding on to any other person and are unwilling to commit that person COMPLETELY to the watch care of God, you are impeding the work that God can do in that person’s life.’ Refer II

You may be thinking, well that’s not what I’m doing Jennifer, I just want to help out! Let’s see what else Dr Lea had to say.

He goes on in the following manner;

‘…as long as you are trying to be “God” for your family members -to be their source of supply, to be their source of love, to have all their trust wrapped up in you [in your help]…then God’s work in YOUR life is also impeded.’ Refer II

Hmmm, a sobering & thought provoking statement, don’t you agree?

Please note, I’m not saying here not to offer a helping hand.

Rather I’m sharing what I’ve learnt, especially with a large family of adult children with their own families, is that we need to pause & consult God first before taking the next step.

Particularly on what He would have us do in the situation, if anything, other then being a very important prayer support & cheerleader for our families.

For He may be moving in ways we can not see or even realise!

We also need to remember that God loves our families above & beyond what we can possibly know or imagine.

And by rushing in to “help” without Pausing & gaining His wisdom there’s every likelihood we will get in His way!

For Psalm 127: 1-3 tells us (paraphrased);