Build Wisely

November 24, 2021

From Pastor Joe

Family. The word itself could conjure up images of Wally and the Beaver-good times, nice parents, an obnoxious kid down the street like Eddie Haskell. But family for some is more like The Addams Family, or the Bundy family on “Married with Children.” Not everyone comes from a great family or enjoys family get-togethers.

I believe a strong healthy family is the key to the fabric of our country. It is the key to growing up healthy and living healthy. But sometimes, it is not what type of family you came from but what you do about the family you came from. How do you react to your background? Do you want to be just like dad...or not anything like dad? Did you learn from a bad example? How did you contribute to the good or the bad in the family?

You are part of a family-even if you are single and live alone. There are moms, dads, step moms and dads, half brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, grandmothers etc. But there is also a work family, a church family, your support system. Family is the people you call home and that support you. But what kind of family are you helping to build?

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he was ready to lay down his hammer.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over the course of building the last home, it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. The house was barely adequate.

When the carpenter finished his work, his employer came to

inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. He might have cared more.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we would do it much differently. But, you cannot go back.

You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. You are a part of a family somewhere-would you want to have you as a brother or a sister? Would you enjoy coming to work to work with YOU? Tell me something about your family-we all have stories.....

Build wisely! Blessings to you today and this Thanksgiving week, my family and friends.