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       “You’re my Nana,” my two-year old grandson Landry sweetly proclaimed as he tightly hugged my neck.  Regardless of the day, he would frequently do the same with his mommy, daddy, papa, siblings, aunts and uncles.  Family was everything to this loving little bundle of energy and his kind greetings of, “you are my mommy,” “you’re my papa,” and “we are a family,” are enough to lift anyone’s spirits.  His sentiments of affection carried over to his playtime too.  Sharks, dinosaurs, horses and even jellybeans were always sorted into “Baby, daddy, mommy, nana, papa, sissy, bubby, auntie and uncle.  My family.”   Through his tiny proclamations, our little guy conveyed love and belonging to each of us.

            Belonging and acceptance is something each human yearns for and requires.  Little did our small love-giving toddler know that he was fulfilling that need in each of us.  We use pronouns everyday but, the specific use of a personal, possessive pronoun can fill this void. Landry’s free offerings of “my, we, and you” tied us together not only in his minute mind but ultimately in our reality.

            Christ has offered each of us the same inclusion.  In His Word, we are clearly accepted and loved as family, not just acquaintances.  Here are just a few examples:

Matt. 28:10 “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Mark 3:35 “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

John 13:33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer…”

God did not have to call us His children, brothers or sisters.  He had every right to rule as the all-powerful God that He is and treat and call us lowly subjects.  We each deserve that if we are honest.  God has given each of us more than one chance after we repeatedly sin against Him.  But what does he do?  He uses those possessive pronouns to assure us that we belong not only to Him but to the entire family of God.  He embraces us instead of casting us out. 

            Have you joined the family by accepting God’s gift of salvation?

            Do you feel alone?  Know that your heavenly Father loves and adores you.

            John 14:23 “Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father        will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”