Thankful for God's Blessings of Family and Friends, Especially the Blessings of Children and Grandchildren

On Saturday evening, May 6, our family attended the 2023 confirmation banquet at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Our grandchildren, Jackson and Emmalee, were confirmed on Sunday, May 7. Since I knew almost all the people present at the banquet, it was pleasant to visit after having been out of town for over 3 months. Among others, I spent time catching up with some out of town family for one of the confirmation students. This family from outside heard we had just returned that day from our time in that Florida. “WHY did you leave Florida for Alaska?” I was asked. Actually, the banquet was not the only place I heard that question. My golf buddies in Florida asked same thing. “Why would a person leave the warmth for the cold?”

On the one hand, many don’t know and don’t understand the beauty and allure which Alaska holds. The mountains speak to me. There are outdoor experiences in Alaska like no other state that I know. (You know, I DO enjoy fishing and hunting!) And, I actually do enjoy the winter and the snow, at least until April. Time outdoors during winter with an ice fishing pole in my hand, or a set of skis on my feet, or even riding a snow machine, are activities I truly enjoy. Nevertheless, I also understand that my wife desires the warmth of Florida during the dark, cold, and windy months in Alaska. Kathy and I are different in that way.

However, there is an even better reason than a change of seasons for why we are in Alaska now – FAMILY! We do have close family and good friends in Florida. But, our children, Joshua, Andrew, Mary, and Timothy, along with their families, all live and work here in Alaska. In addition, in Alaska have really good friends, almost like family, in our church and community. Kathy and I believe that the warmth of close family is even better than the warm temperatures of a southern state. The love of people is more important than the beauty of a place. Relationships are more important than possessions.

God teaches us that He intends for family to be a treasure. One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 127. Part of that Psalm reads this way about family. “3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. 4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. 5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. . .” AND, in addition to our three sons, we also have a daughter whom we love.

The book of Proverbs furthers the thought about the blessing of children, and includes the joy of grandchildren. “Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.” (Proverbs 17: 6) Kathy and I not only have 4 children, all living within 50 miles of us in Palmer, but we also have 6 grandchildren who all live within five miles of us. We love our ‘children’s children,’ and we miss them when we are out of state.

More than that, Confirmation Day was not just a day with temporal blessings from God. A day on which a person declares their faith in Jesus also includes spiritual and heavenly blessings. Consider what Jesus has to say about material possessions compared to spiritual and eternal blessings. 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) So, we rejoiced to be present on this day of spiritual and eternal blessings in our grandchildren’s lives as well.

I do know and believe that God’s blessings of people are more precious than the things of this world. But sometimes, like others, I can forget this truth. I can fail to live up to my values. For example, I took golf lessons in Florida again this year. So, on Saturday, May 6, when I went to the driving range in Palmer where the temperature was about 50, instead of 85, where it was cloudy and windy, instead of sunny with a slight breeze, where the wind blew my ball across the mat as I tried to hit it, and where the wind blew my clubs over, I will admit to forgetting somewhat about my loved ones and to thinking about the warmth of our Florida home. I had that thought for a moment at least. Nevertheless, I continue to believe what I said above, “the warmth of close family is even better than the warm temperatures of a southern state.”

An important part of Christian faith is an attitude of thankfulness. Christians believe that we have sinned against God and against others. We believe that what we deserve from our Lord for our sin is punishment and death. Yet, in grace, God forgives us and saves us through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection. God is also with us daily through “Immanuel - God with us,” and through His Holy Spirit. Knowing that we deserve punishment, yet through faith in Jesus we receive mercy and love, that we receive forgiveness and salvation, how can we not be thankful for these blessings of God?? In this attitude of gratitude, I include being thankful for the people in my lives, for friends, and for family. I can very easily make a list of God’s blessings of love through family.

How about you? Has God blessed you through the people in your life, through your family? Have you given thanks to the Lord for these blessings? Do you live your values and your thankfulness? Our Lord will help us in living as He intends us to live.