“Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept and fell down before him…”
Genesis 50:17-18
The Old Testament gives us many opportunities to witness families in conflict. I could have chosen from several narratives that embody the common divisions families face. The story of Joseph reuniting with his brothers was the first biblical narrative that came to mind when I thought about gratitude and family.
"...gratitude and family..."
My offering to you is this: gratitude for family is deeply personal yet universally relevant. “Family” is a loaded word. Trauma can be evoked with the mere mention of it. In a completely different context, family can bring memories of a loving home. Gratitude for family might stem from a healthy appreciation of the strength and healing one has developed in response to abuse. On the other end of the spectrum, gratitude could arise from the unconditional support family members have provided in life’s most crucial moments. Regardless of where you are on the spectrum of family experiences, I encourage you to find a pathway to gratitude. In my experience this journey has been difficult.
What does "family" mean to you?
After Joseph was sold into slavery by his 11 brothers, he was finally reunited with them. This time, he was in a position of power. Eventually, he and his brothers wept together—tears of gratitude. A complicated mess of abuse and despair had brought forth a deep emotional response shared by family. Sometimes, this is what relationships with kin look like.
"...tears of gratitude..."
You might cry because of a long-awaited reunion. You might cry because your abuser arrived unexpectedly at a family gathering. You might cry because you cannot forgive the past. You might cry because decades of anger toward a family member have finally come to an end. I don’t know why you have cried about your kin, but I offer you this: have gratitude that the tears are flowing, and find a safe person to guide you through this sacred release.
Gracious God, you abide in our complicated families. Guide us to safety the next time we cry about our family.
AMEN
2 Responses
It is great to hear from you, again, Pastor Seth! While my experience has been somewhere in the middle of the “abuse spectrum”, I do have a strong sense of gratitude for the paths in life that I did not take because of the guidance of my parents decades ago.
Good to hear from you again Don!