“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, You have blessed us with the gift of family. You have given us people to care for us and to help us grow, to watch over us and pick us up when we fall, to live with us in our imperfections and help us to experience Your divine grace. Families are to be places were faith is grown and refined.

Yet we are an imperfect people scarred by sin. Our lives have nay always reflected Your grace, we have not always followed Your divine plan for our lives. We are a broken people and our families too often lie in the brokenness and hurt that has come about because of our lacking of faith, our pride, and sinfulness. We have missed placed our trust in in You and tried to put our trust and faith in our own understanding, in passing fads, in things that give us unproven promises instead of following You who knows us and loves us, who has fulfilled His promises to us.

Families are still trying to find their way in the brokenness of this world. They are forming together to show and live in the l¿◊|E giving love that You have poured into us. Families do not all look alike but even in their differences they are learning and striving to grow in grace. Families not just off blood but also of friends, living together in brokenness but learning to trust in Your promise of wholeness and love. Learning to live not just for their kingdoms but sharing the blessing of Your heavenly kingdom filled with love and grace.

Help us Lord to continue to heal, to grow, and to thrive. Help us to forgive and be forgiven. Help us to love as You are loving us. Thank-you for families and families of friends.

We pray this in Your holy name. Amen.