Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3: 34-35).

My sister is an amazing teacher. She’s dedicated to her students’ education, but it’s a challenging job, and often it gets a little crazy.  I recently sent her a little plaque she put on her desk as a reminder of how hard her job is.  It says:

“You can’t make everyone happy. You’re not a taco.”

Do you ever feel like it’s your job to make everyone happy?  Your family, friends, or complete strangers?  

I think Jesus would agree you’re not a taco. You weren’t created to make everyone happy, regardless of their relationship to you.

In Mark 3, we see Jesus responding to the accusation that he’s driving out demons using the power of the devil. Most of the crowd has gathered to listen, while others are calling him out as crazy. In modern terms, we might see that Jesus is really “making a scene” and his family is on their way to intervene. 

At this point, Jesus could have considered how he can repair this situation to make everyone happy.  His family. The leaders. Everyone in the crowd. It’s time to be a taco!  

But he doesn’t. When told to be quiet and leave with his family, he makes a radical declaration.  Instead of trying to make everyone happy, Jesus sets up a boundary that establishes his purpose for the mission of God.  Jesus declares all who believe and obey God to be part of his family.

That’s an answer to my taco quandary.  I’m not here to chase after what makes people happy.  Accepting my place as part of God’s family is what I’m after.

For my family, it’s more than being at church or joining a small group.  It’s more than saying our blessing before meals or prayers before bed.  It’s making sure my kids understand we’re not just trying to be nice; we’re trying to be examples of how we obey God and see ourselves as part of Jesus’s family.

There’s also meaning for those who are struggling to feel like part of a family. Do you have someone in your life asking you to try church again, join a small group, or be part of a youth group? They’re not just trying to make you happy. They are inviting you to join God’s family.

Tacos might make an amazing Tuesday dinner, but we need to stop trying to be a taco. You are being called not to please everyone, but to please God by being part of his family. And that’s something we all can enjoy!

Where are you seeing invitations to join the family of God? What ways can you more deeply connect your family life to Jesus?  Or is there an invitation to engage more deeply with Jesus as part of his family that you haven’t yet accepted?