Family of the Heart

My husband and I participate in a group within our church body called Laborers for Christ. Through this group, we go to building projects at specific churches. We recently finished working on a building project in which the Laborers erected a Family Life Center and Preschool building. During the project, we live in our motor home on the construction site along with the other Laborers for Christ who are participating. We count it a blessing to be involved in the Laborers for Christ group. We are privileged to help the congregations extend their outreach capabilities to the community while getting acquainted with some of the finest people you could ever hope to meet, both in the Laborers and in the congregations. Leaving at the end of a project is always difficult for we feel like we’re leaving behind many dear friends. On this last project, we felt especially blessed by the generosity, kindnesses, and hospitality of several very special people from the congregation throughout the time we sojourned with them. It brought to mind the verse of Proverbs 27:9 that tells us “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Our souls have certainly been refreshed by the love shared with us during this project. People who practice such sweet friendship touch our lives with their love and creep into our hearts to stay. They become part of our “family of the heart.” We enjoy spending time with these people. We feel comfortable enough with them to be ourselves without pretense. It is rare to find such people and it is indeed an event to celebrate. So, here’s to you, dear friends at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Hemet. You have left your footprints on our hearts. We look forward to the time our paths cross again. Readers, have you taken time lately to tell the people in your “family of the heart” they are a blessing to you? Now would be a good time to share such thoughts with these special friends. Perhaps they need the encouragement of hearing that they have ministered to you in a special way. Let us remember to encourage one another and build one another up. May there be blessings on you this day!