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May 15, 2007
Shock and Surprise
Yes, I do. I like them. This is surprising because of all the forces aligned against us. Culture says wives aren't supposed to like their husband's family...especially not her mother-in-law. But thankfully, I've been freed from that silliness. This is not to say we haven't worked at it, or that we don't have our foibles, but we sure have succeeded where others have failed.
There's FatherinLaw. He's a pastor. He's an introvert, an intellectual man. He's an observer, and I've learned, he doesn't like being peppered with questions. He's an excellent preacher. He's a good man.
MotherinLaw shows her love by doing. She runs the home...food, laundry, cleaning, you name it! It's always clean, which is astounding; she runs a daycare in her home. She also loves to give gifts. She loves pretty things and rotates all the knickknacks in her home monthly. (That way they aren't all out at once, causing an eyeball overload.) She plans ahead and is able to throw parties from 1000 miles away because she plans every detail and takes everything she needs with her. Wow.
BrotherinLaw #1 is married, and he and his wife are having a baby in August. I haven't had much time to spend with them, but they are a really neat couple and are going to make awesome parents. They both work hard at their jobs. If only we lived closer to them (or if they lived closer to us), we'd get along really well. They are, like I said, really neat people.
SisterinLaw is a good friend of mine. She's funny, organized, clever, sensitive, humble, and fun. She's one of those people you have to take time to get to know (probably not someone I'd have put the effort into in my college days, to my loss), but once you cross the walls, she really opens up. She's a lot like her brother: needs to be allowed to open up, doesn't like to be pried open, loves to listen and to share, a hard worker and a servant's heart. Like every woman I've ever known, she thinks too low of herself and doesn't realize her quality and value. A good friend, and I can't wait for what the Lord has in store for our relationship in the future.
And BrotherinLaw #2. He's a soph in college now. The typical 'baby of the family,' he longs to blaze his own trail, be his own man, and carve his own name on territory instead of following in everyone else's footsteps. But he's also a funny guy, interesting, clever, hardworking, a listener (like the rest of them), an adventurer, and a loner. He'd be a great Survivorman. It's taken a while for the two of us to connect, but I believe we finally have and I for one am thankful to get to know him, who he is, instead of just guessing based on typical patterns like 'baby of the family,' 'outgoing,' 'outdoorsy,' and whatever The Dude and SisterinLaw have shared with me.
There's also niece/nephew, and what a delight. S/He's not even my blood family, but I already ache with joy and love for her/him. What will s/he be like? How will s/he change our family? How will s/he be shaped by his/her parents? Can't wait!
So, how will God continue to shape and change me...and them...via each other? I've been tenderized and sanctified through them. They've had some of their weak spots exposed and hopefully shored up through me. What's down the road for us? I do not know, but I know that God has already worked (haha) miracles in our relationship. It didn't start well, but here we are, and I really care for them...and I actually like them and like spending time with them. I love them.
| By The Newest Worker | 02:47 PM
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