To talk about family or marriage seems so very old-fashioned and not the ’in-thing’ these days. I remember years ago Billy Graham’s wife Ruth saying "I am considered abnormal because I am happily married"! How strange and how sad that sounded at the time, and how standards and morals have changed rapidly over the years!

I think it behoves us to get back to the very beginning and that, of course, is God. The Bible starts with "In the beginning, God", and what better place to start than that, because it was God who instituted marriage in the Garden of Eden. He created Adam and then Eve, and blessed their union (as He has done over the years to millions of others). Then of course, children followed, so we have our first family, just as it was in God’s heart from the beginning of time. That was His plan and one that He blesses.

I often think of days gone past when we used to meet with another family and sing around the piano, sit down to a meal together and converse one with another. How happy and secure we all felt and what fun we had! These days television has taken the place of all that (and I’m as much to blame as anyone).

We may not be very rich financially but if we have a close and loving family we are indeed the richest people on this earth. It is relationships that count, not what we may have materially. I am very fortunate in this respect because I have the love of children and grandchildren and what a blessing they all are! I remember my husband’s last prayer before he died, "that we will all meet in heaven an unbroken family". I know God will answer that prayer.

lot of people reading this will say "It’s alright for you, but what about me? I’m all on my own." Even single and lonely people can be loved and brought into a family. Psalm 68 tells us that God sets the solitary in families, like a tapestry that God is weaving - perhaps somebody from prison who needs help and love, or someone from a broken home (or no home!) whose parents couldn’t care less. We can befriend them and bring them into our homes and into the joy of belonging to two families, a material and a spiritual one, where we are so complete and nothing on this earth can compare with it.

At the same time I feel sad when I hear of families who do not speak to one another. Yet it happens all the time, when what God wants is for us to be united and at peace with one another. This is so hard sometimes but our God is a God of peace, and all things are possible with Him. I hope and pray that as Christmas approaches, we will welcome the Babe of Bethlehem into our homes, and, as families, greet Him as the coming Prince of Peace.