February: Relationships and Family

Relationships and Family

I turned the calendar to February this morning. Valentines day, Family Day, our seminar on Restorative practices.... it seems a theme is emerging.

Our social nature defines so much of who we are. We were created to be in relationship certainly with one another (it was not good for us to be alone), and with God as well. So much of our daily experience is shaped and formed by our interaction with others.  It follows, of course, that those interactions will inevitably be 'very good' and 'very broken' as we believe that God created a world He delighted in, and that sin permeates all parts of that creation as well.

February, in some ways, is a time when we call attention to the potential of the relationships we have with one another and the ways in which we can honour God through them. The very presence of a system of education in which we learn together in community is a humbling opportunity to model and form good relationships.   Bruce Schenk, director of IIRP Canada writes:

"We are called to a ministry of reconciliation. As Christian people, this is our call in all areas of our lives, starting with reconciliation to God through Christ's death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:18). Throughout scripture, the emphasis on the central role of forgiveness and reconciliation in our faith is akin to the core values and purpose of restorative practice. When hurtful behavior occurs, the restorative mantra of talking about what has happened, looking at who has been affected or harmed and how, and what is needed to make things right, is similar in the Christian context to acknowledging our sin, confession, honest contemplation and reflection on the impact of our actions, reconciliation, and healing."  (Full article here.) Relationships feed us and address a central part of who God has created us to be, but they also take work.

Consider joining us for a focus on relationships in parenting this February. Anne Martin of Shalem Mental Health Network will lead us on February 22nd to present "WITH, not AGAINST:  dealing with relationship strain or conflict in parenting."  Perhaps by attending, this is a gift you can give to your family as we seek to work for God's kingdom in all of our relationships.