It’s only a scratch in my throat.  So, sure!  Come on over.  For 6 full days.

Sure, bring your dog.  Is he potty trained?  No?  Oh well…

Sure, bring the Littlebears.  Do they have schoolwork due?  You don’t know?  Oh well…

She loves her Bears more than she hates her cough.  She loves her Bears more than she loves a good night’s sleep.  She loves her Bears despite a bit of chaos, stains on the carpet,  juice on the floor, dirty feet on the couch.  She loves them.  She loves family.  She wants them to feel her love.   She hopes they do.

And so for a full week, her cough got worse, her schedule thrown off, her steps multiplied, her dollars disappeared, her laundry pile didn’t disappear.  But ooooooh the happy.  Everyone.  So happy.  Who can calculate the value of family.

Me.  Do whatever it takes to bless all you love.  Say yes.  Lavish praise.  Acknowledge character.  Add extra.  Share Jesus.  Serve up, pick up, clean up.  Value the family over everything.  Value their happy.

Who taught me this?  Who taught me the value of family?  The one who gave me a family and valued us before anything else.  He made us oh so happy.

We still are.