I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on cousins and the powerful part they play in sharing our stories. Mary hastened to her cousin not only for encouragement in her story but also to help be a part of Elizabeth’s. Cousins can have quite a powerful influence in our lives. Leviticus 25 tells us they even have power to redeem us, like we see in the Book of Tobit and Jeremiah 32. Some even co-labor with us in important missions, finding themselves united across generations and miles, as we see with Paul and Mark, Mary and Elizabeth, John and Jesus. Indeed the role of family can be vital in forming key people in their discipleship or even just forming a family, just look to Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel. Just do a word study on the many uncles, cousins, and kinswomen and kinsmen Scripture mentions as having played an influentual role in the Story of Salvation.
I saw a meme recently that said something like it took 10,000 lives full of choices to have a family just for you to exist and that’s just going back 1,000 years! Modern science also is lending its awe to the pondering with recent discoveries in epigenetics, which suggest how our ancestors traumatic experiences may be passed to us in our DNA adding to the impact of not just gene mutations but also their expressions in physical and mental health. It can bring the depth of our daily lives into full view. How can I live in such a way that honors their “Yes’s and No’s” that ultimately brought me here.
Sharing in each other’s journeys is a privilege. And hearing of them can bring life to the bones and restoration of hope. Family is central to the heart of the Gospel. May we never forget the powerful redemption God has placed in it for each of us.
And I just realized I haven’t shared my story of hope in a while, so dear cousins, here it is. May it bless you to keep the faith and continue to grow in grace. And should we meet face to face along the path, I hope we can see the resemblance. Maybe we’ll even have time to catch up and share stories.
