Team Work

This weekend I have been enjoying some of the Olympics from London.  Watching the Olympics you see a lot about the importance of team work.  Each person doing his or her job, contributing to the effort to win a medal. As the commentator put it about one of the U.S. olympians, "He has the ability to go all the way but he has no thoughts about it now, it is all about the team." Tonight it was the men's free style swimming relay and the women's gymnastics team. And of course, we are rooting for Team USA as we look at these amazing performances!  

Team work is also essential to a family.  This was brought home to me again this weekend.  We had a medical situation with one of the grandparents.  Yes, my wife and I are in the "sandwich generation," dealing with aging parents as we move to the finish line raising our children.  Thankfully everything worked out and God was faithful.  

As I reflect on everything that happened, it was such a blessing to see the members of my family work together as a team.  It is great to know that  your spouse and your kids have your back and are willing to step up and do what needs to be done.  Times of adversity and stress will show what your family is made of.  So often the commentators for the various olympic events talk about how the difference in the athlete's performance comes down to how the person deals with stress.  

So let me ask you a question, how does your family handle adversity? When times get stressful, do you pull together or get pulled apart?  My family is far from perfect, but what helps us pull together is our shared commitment to Jesus.  This gives us a common foundation to build on as we all seek to put Jesus first and not ourselves.  I suggest to you that if your family gets pulled apart during times of difficulty, that your family needs a deeper connection to God before those times arise, so that you are better equipped to deal with them when they happen. 

Blessings,

Dr. Paul