It has been a busy two weeks for my family. Our regular schedule had been shifted around involuntarily because of my wife’s niece’s wedding ceremony in last week – this includes my weekly sharing schedule too🙂. In preparation for the ceremony, my family, naturally, became the host to all my visiting in-laws. And, unavoidably, we have to assume the task of receiving, cooking and chauffeuring. Though it is busy and laborious but it is also a joyful family reunion time.

During their stay, my in-laws have the opportunity to observe our daily living and especially, to see how the families of God work together in preparing for the wedding ceremony. They told us that they were very impressed on our arrangement and preparation and the ceremony was solemn and meaningful. I know it is not easy for some of them to take time off from their ever-busy day-to-day schedule. This temporary detour from their schedule, however, gives them a chance to have a refreshing experience and most importantly, an opportunity to learn what is the true meaning of a marriage defined by God.

From this experience, I do see how God provide and how He led two persons (the bride and the groom) together without the limitation of distance and cultural differences. He is really a great God! Also, I see brothers and sisters pouring out their time and resources to help us in making the ceremony perfect – what a love we have received! I thank God for giving us so many loving brothers and sisters to accompany us through the time of joy. This lets me think of what apostle Paul has said, “與喜樂的人要同樂Rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15a)”.  The sincere love expressed by our brothers and sisters makes us feel warm and also to our in-laws. They said: we look like a big family and they are happy to see the newly-weds are with us in the family of God.

As you may know, “small” family size has been emphasized and enforced by government and authority in some countries, because of the exploding population in their countries. So, the question is: Is small family size better or a big family size better? I think it depends. The truth is it is not the size of the family that determines its superiority. Instead, it is the love within the family that really matters – without the love, it is just a dysfunctional family. By knowing this truth, my dear friends, I invite you to join the family of God with us. This is a big family with God’s love and it is “the” family that will sustain forever under any circumstances.