Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

We met Esther the first time our young family visited a new church in Minot, North Dakota. She leaned over the pew separating us and handed me a slip of paper with her name, number, and an offer to watch our kids. We were strangers, and I thought to myself, “There’s no way she’s serious!” The following Sunday Esther met me with a warm hug, another slip of paper with her name and number, and the same offer to watch the kids. She said, “I’m serious! I’d love to watch your kids.”

At the end of another wintry week in a new city, cooped up in the house with the kids, I didn’t care if she was serious or not! I called her that same day and set up a time for her to come over and watch the kids so my husband and I could enjoy a dinner out together. 

That was the beginning of what’s now an eleven-year relationship with one of my dearest friends, who became family when she offered a warm hug and sincere offer to help frazzled strangers in need. She was the loving arms of my mother when I was far from home, and she was the embodiment of Jesus’ love for me--a physical reminder that I was being cared for in a new place. 

Our verses this week highlight the fact that we don’t have to be related by blood to be family.  Christians are all family no matter the color of our skin, our political affiliation, our opinions on vaccines or mask mandates, or which side of the Haw river we happen to live on. We are all parts of the same body, each unique and with its own purpose but working toward the same goal: to love God, love others, and engage our world for good. 

Can you name Chatham Church friends who have become family? (Friend+family= framily!) Today’s “challenge:” call, text, FaceTime, email, and/or hire a skywriter to tell your “framily” how thankful you are for the positive impact they’ve had on your life!