Article September 29, 2003 Issue

Life in God's family

By Jan Johnston

AS A YOUNG GIRL, I had an aunt who was quite family-oriented. Her concept of family was narrow, though. She strongly believed the saying that "blood is thicker than water." Her adult brothers and sisters (she was the oldest) suffered greatly from her demands upon them.

Although they all had families and jobs of their own, in cities away hers, she expected them to pay constant attention to her and meet her every need, whenever they had a spare moment.

Although my aunt's "blood" brothers and sisters visited her often and did their best to satisfy her, it never seemed to be enough. And yet, she had a wonderful friend down the street who took her shopping whenever she needed, a neighbor who mowed her lawn and shoveled her snow, a young man who came and did odd jobs and errands for her because she didn't drive.