Rebirth-Our Family's Affirmation part 1

With Easter 2013 having come and gone now we have really been thinking about just what REBIRTH means and what Jesus' death and resurrection means (at least should) to us all.  Rebirth means literally to be "born once again".  How can one be reborn if they are already born?  This born again is not in flesh but in spirit and soul.  When Jesus died on that cross it was not so others could judge who was good and who was bad or who was deserving of such and such and who was not.  When Christians start to do such it is almost a mockery of the very event we just celebrated this past weekend.  We are human and sad as it is we are not perfect.  Humans can make mistakes and often we do but it is not the job or right of others to pass judgment on that person's status as a Christian. 

For myself this is a lesson I am constantly learning, especially through my children.  There are days I have made a fair share of mistakes as a person and as a mommy.  But what I really took the time this weekend to think about is that I do not have to prove my worth to anyone.  I simply need to focus my efforts on asking God for forgiveness and to help me improve.  My children do not understand the significance of this Easter weekend and may never but that is okay because God has given my children grace that covers that inability to understand.  He also has extended that grace to me but in a different manner.

This weekend we were not able to dress in the Easter dresses I made the girls nor in the matching outfits I found for the boys.  Our weekend turned out a bit different but it still carried so much meaning to rebirth.  I looked at all of my children and the rebirth they have gone through. 

My adopted children all have gone through a rebirth of love and family.

 

Carrington went through a literal rebirth in her physical body.

 

Madelaine has gone through a rebirth of her spiritual nature.

 

 

We have decided to save our Easter pictures for a time when the Texas bluebonnets are in bloom and then we will all find our way to a patch of these beautiful symbols of spring (which is also a season of rebirth) to capture our family in our rebirth.

 

This past year was a time of great agony and loss.  We found ourselves needing to stop and focus our attention and efforts on personal matters.  The pain and loss came so unnecessarily and from those who professed to be Christians.  What did this mean?  For my husband who is new to walking in his faith it was crushing because he wondered if this is how Christians acted then he did not want a part of it.  For myself, it was a time of feeling so isolated and seriously wounded by those I called friends, fellow believers.  It has taken time, pure love and acceptance, and many hours of conversations with those Christians I admire and respect to help us find our way back.  To find our story of rebirth. It has not been a contest of those who can shout out x number of Bible verses nor those who profess how Christ like they are.  In fact, our story of rebirth began quietly and without all the fanfare just as it was meant to be.  God has His hand through all of this and it is His hand and His calling we will follow. It won't always be perfect (He does not require that) nor will it be easy (He never said it would) or without pain (He does not inflict the pain but is there to help us through) but what it is is our story of rebirth and what it has meant and done for our family.