"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." ~Jane Howard

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and my Facebook news feed blew up with posts and pictures of my friends with their moms and children.  Some were funny, all were sweet, and I enjoyed seeing all of it!  My own children put together this very thoughtful video for me . . .


I am blessed, and most of the people in my circle of friends and acquaintances are equally blessed with loving families.  And being surrounded by such a family oriented community, I often take this for granted.

However, on Saturday afternoon, I saw another side of life . . .

Sarah & Ryan were visiting, and we went out to Lake Tyler to enjoy the nice weather and try out Jeff's new canoe.  Jeff, Sarah & Ryan loaded up and headed out for a nice, leisurely trip across the lake, while I sat back in a lawn chair to enjoy the quiet solitude that comes with being on the shore.  I was ready to enjoy the sights and sounds of waves gently slapping the shore, boats passing in the distance, birds flying and chirping, frogs hopping and croaking, and the gentle rustle of leaves as the wind blew through the trees.

Ahhh, such peaceful relaxation awaited me, or so I thought.  However, as my family rowed away and I settled back in my camp chair, the sights and sounds I anticipated were far from my reality.

About 50 yards to my left, three people sat together on top of a picnic table.  Two young men, and a young woman.  They were loud, and obviously inebriated.  Further down to my left was a tent, and near that campsite sat a man and two women.  At first, I couldn't hear much from this group, but that soon changed.

Shortly after my family departed in the canoe, one of the young women from the tent group walked over to the picnic table group.  She loudly told them that although she didn't know them, she thought they "looked like nice people."  She said she "needed a break from the drama" of her tent group, and then she went on to (loudly) tell her new friends all of her camping friends' troubles - about how she had to come out there that morning at 9 a.m. to settle their strife, and how when she arrived, they were walking around naked and she had to get them dressed . . . She also said, "I just want to get them home without them going to jail."  All of this was laced with expletives.

Before long, tent woman and picnic table people were sharing beer and laughter.  Then, things took an ugly turn . . . one of the picnic table men stumbled (literally) over to the man and woman sitting near the tent - the two who had previously been described as "walking around naked" earlier in the morning.  Words were exchanged between the two young men who didn't know each other - loud, profane words.  And, as expected, it soon escalated into punching and kicking.

At this point, my happy little family returned from their peaceful excursion.  (Well, mostly peaceful - I later learned that the tent people had yelled expletives at them as they rowed past.)  

As I contemplated whether or not to call the police to report these people pummeling each other, the fight quickly broke up, and the picnic table group got into their car and left.

Jeff and Ryan loaded up the canoe, we departed the lake for Braum's ice cream, and enjoyed the rest of our afternoon.

I've thought a lot about those people at the lake the past two days.  Especially as I consider the stark contrast between the people in my world, and the way those people we encountered at the lake live their lives.  I wondered about them yesterday - as we gathered with our church family to worship God, I wondered what they were doing, and how they were feeling.  As I thought back on the memories we made with Sarah and Ryan the previous few days, I wondered about those groups at the lake - would they even remember what had occurred in their lives on Saturday?  They were obviously intoxicated, so probably not.  And if they do remember, what kind of memories will they be?

Then, I wondered about their Mother's Day.  The people in my life, for the most part, have happy families.  I somehow doubt those young folks at the lake have warm, loving families.

So what's the difference?  I do not want to in any way imply that we are "better" than those people at the lake.  We are all human beings, created in God's image, and given the same Savior who died for us.  We are all sinners in need of that Savior.  The difference is that the people in my circle of life have chosen to follow Him.

When we choose to follow our Creator, to do things in His way, to pattern our lives after our Savior, and to teach those things to our children, we will be blessed.  God's way is always best.

So as I begin my week, and think back over the family memories I made over this previous weekend, I am a little more thankful -- thankful for the parents who raised me to honor God, and for my children who have chosen to follow God in their own lives.  I'm trying harder to not take those blessings for granted.  And most importantly, I will strive harder this week to be a light to those I might encounter like the unfortunate souls we saw at Lake Tyler on Saturday.  How sadly miserable those people must be.

“But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.”  ~Psalm 103:17-18