by Joanne Wiklund
Sometimes small things trigger a memory so vivid you wonder how that happens. Not necessarily something traumatic. Good times with family, all of us gathered together. We are a large and extended family, fortunate as was our mother, who was one of five sisters and one brother. We were together often growing up, various groups of us, along with grandmas and grandpas scattered around Iowa and Illinois. Then some moved to the Dakotas and California.
But we knew our cousins. Met them at weddings, funerals, holidays and summers often just family gatherings, anniversaries. We stayed in touch and even though our numbers are dwindling, we still love those we have left. But I’m not sure too many children these days know all their relatives. Even when they go to the same schools, it’s hard for them to know who’s a relative if they’ve not seen them since they were smaller. At Dorrance Park tonight a couple of cousins played ball on opposite teams without knowing they were both family. Even second cousins we count. Family is family, right? Someone asked me once how far out we go to count someone as family. My answer was: “All the way!” We have friends we count as family.
Our church family is family also. Since 1963, we have counted Countryside as our church home. We are among the old folks now, but we welcome all who join us. God is our father and Jesus loves us. The Bible tells us so.
Matthew 19:32 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
Psalm 86:11 “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name: I will praise thee O Lord my God with all my heart, and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”
