Blended Families

Blended Families

The Brady Bunch brought attention

to the American blended family.

Now the blended family seems to be the norm.

But there is nothing normal about raising a blended family.

Abraham had a blended family

and maybe we can gain some insight from his life. 

 

Blended families in America are on the increase.

“2,100 new blended families are formed EVERY DAY in America.”

http://www.thebondedfamily.com/blendedfamilystatistics

In 2010, blended families were considered to be

the predominant family form in the U.S.

http://www.winningstepfamilies.com/BlendedFamilyStatistics.html

Although blended families are increasing

to the predominant norm,

blended families are not new.

Abraham’s sons, Isaac and Ishmael, were half brothers

and after Sarah died,

Abraham had at least six more children. Genesis 25:2

Although Isaac and Ishmael

were drawn together to bury their father;

we see that Ishmael’s children

“lived in hostility toward their brothers.” Genesis 25:18

Abraham was full of faith and Godliness,

but his children did not get along.

Yes, Isaac was to become a great nation and so was Ishmael,

but the Middle East has been torn apart

by the wars of these blended families.

The challenges of blended families can seem to be insurmountable.

Sandy and I come from blended families

and have worked with many others

who were part of a blended family.

Although Sandy and I do not see

our half and step brothers and sisters very often,

we always enjoy those times we do get together.

There are a few factors I have noticed that help keep families united.

Parents are the key!

Parents that keep positive conversation in the home

create positive attitudes in their children;

don’t let your frustrations with others

create negative environments.

Parents that make all their children

(even the ‘his’ and ‘hers’) feel special

will avoid the favorite wars.

Look for ways to build relationships

that will last after you are gone.

I believe the most important way to keep the family united

is to have your family unit around Christ and the Church.

If you are a member of a blended family,

take a positive role in its unity.

Pray for those family members that are struggling.

Don’t be a part of the blended family challenges;

be a part of the solutions - with love!

Blended families take a lot of work and wisdom

but the investment is well worth it.

May God Bless those who are a part of a blended family.

PS:  If you feel like you might have had some failures

raising your blended family, take heart so did Abraham;

not all God’s children turned out the way He had hoped.

Just don’t give up, the grace you need is at the end of prayer.

Scripture Reading

Genesis 25:1-18 NIV

25:1 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.

2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.

4 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida and Eldaah.

All these were descendants of Keturah.

5 Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac.

6 But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines

and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east.

7 Altogether, Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years.

8 Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age,

an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.

9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre,

in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite,

10 the field Abraham had bought from the Hittites.

There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham's death,

God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

12 This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Sarah's maidservant,

Hagar the Egyptian, bore to Abraham.

13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, listed in the order of their birth:

Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah.

16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these are the names of the twelve tribal rulers according to their settlements and camps.

17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years.

He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people.

18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur,

near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur.

And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.