Sunday was both Father’s Day and my 22nd anniversary. Both of these events got me to thinking about family. I believe one of God’s greatest blessings is the families we are born into or acquire.
Speaking of acquired family, I hit the jackpot with my wife Sharon. She has been a source of love and support and strength from day one, and I love her more every day.
Obviously, not everyone comes from a wonderful family. Some receive little love from their families. Some are even killed by their mothers before they are born. I feel for those who are not surrounded by loving, supportive families. It was not God’s intention that any would grow up without love. It’s man’s sinful nature that allowed that situation to arise.
From my earliest memories, I felt love very strongly from my parents. I was also very fortunate to have loving grandparents and aunts and uncles. I probably don’t even begin to understand all the benefits to me from these loving people.
My sister Barb has been there ever since the day I was born. We had our own sets of friends and our own interests growing up, and I can’t say we were especially close, and geography has kept us from being close in our adult lives, but I’ve always felt a special bond with Barb. I’ve always known she cared, and that’s a tremendous source of peace and strength. And since she married Joe Estinson a few years ago, she has given me some wonderful new nieces and nephews.
It’s hard for me to talk about my daughter Lynn without getting maudlin. She’s been a special treasure every day of her life, and she’s given me a great son-in-law and three wonderful grandsons. What a source of joy, and what peace to know she’s happy and leading a fulfilled life.
One of the things my mother and aunts did for us kids was to make sure all of us cousins got to spend time together growing up, and that has been important to us. Age differences and geography have prevented me from being quite as close to some of them as I would like, but I think any of us would come running if one of us needed it.
Two of my cousins in particular—a pair of fraternal twins—are close enough to me in age and have always lived close enough that we’ve developed special bonds. As time goes on, I’ve come to think of both of them more as sisters than cousins, and their love and support has always been extremely important to me. I hope I’ve said this without hurting Jan’s or Phyllis’s or Randy’s or Mike’s feelings, because I love all of them, too. It’s just that there’s a special bond with Jane and June (and June’s husband Jerry).
God has blessed me in so many ways throughout my life—and I’m sure that includes a lot of blessings I haven’t even been aware of—but I think my family is among the greatest of his blessings, and I thank Him every day for them.
What blessings are you especially thankful for.
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If you abide in Me and My word abides in you, then you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
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For more information about David N. Walker, click the “About” tab above.
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David N Walker 
David – I’ve often thought having a strong family foundation was necessary for a healthy child, both mentally and physically. We learn so much from those early years of seeing our family members get along with extended family [or not] as the case may be. I wouldn’t trade my rural Kansas youth tied in heavily to a large extended family on my father’s side for any other privilege I can think of.
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I am ever so grateful for my family as well, although, unfortunately I’m not particularly close to any particular person. Both my mom and dad came from huge families (12 kids for my dad and 7 for my mom) but they all life a long ways away. I was relatively close to a couple of cousins, who I’d see once or twice a year if we traveled to Minnesota, but as I grew up and moved away from my parents’ home, I saw them less and less.
I only have one brother, who unfortunately chose to shut me out of his life despite us being very close until we got into our 20’s; then we chose different paths and he didn’t need me any more I guess. So there’s only my crotchety old dad left and he requires a good deal of patience. Not that I don’t love either of them, but we’re not particularly close, especially me and my brother. I was extremely close to my mom, but she has gone on to do great things with Jesus so I can’t share things with her any more.
I love the concept of big families and big family gatherings, but I don’t really see that in my life. I’m so glad you have been blessed.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Sorry you don’t have the closeness you desire from family. I wish everyone had close, supportive family members.
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Amen, David, and thank you! I’am thrilled that your procedure went so well and was successful!!!! I look forward to seeing you the 13th. Love you, Jane
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Thanks, Jane.
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Great blog, of course. Our family is not without quirks and difficulties, but whose is? I agree that we are very blessed, for all the reasons you mentioned. Love you, Bro.
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Thanks, Sis.
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Hi David, First allow me to wish Sharon and you a blessed 22nd Wedding Anniversary, May you be Blessed another 22 yrs .I would also like to wish You a Happy Father’s Day. I am Thankful to God for sparing my life in the accident I had in 2007. I have not had the Blessing of a Close Family.I had an extremely rough childhood I am the youngest of 8 and after my mom went home to Heaven a few days after my 16th B.D., it Seemed our family fell apart instead of getting closer.To me, nothing is more important then Family Sadly, something I never had God Bless you and your family, David, Please know I am praying for you before, during and after your procedure today.
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Thanks, Rose Marie, for your comment and your prayers.
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AMEN
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I’m especially thankful for God, who greatly gifted me with a wonderful family, friends, and nature’s awesome beauty.
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Amen, Sharon.
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