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Good morning.

We are preparing to move house just now.  One of the most stressful transitions of all.  Some of it is about dealing with the accumulated clutter.  Our adult children have been removing their childhood possessions.  And of course we have the generational clutter as well – the china and glass; the faded photographs of … which of your great aunts is that? … and lots of other stuff as well.

It’s the family photographs which really tell the story – of birthday parties, first days at school, camping holidays and the rest.  Delightful small children – we must have had energy in those days – gradually maturing and stretching away from us.  They went travelling on their own all over the world and to our great relief they came home safe.

They needed to go away to far-off places and to make us a bit worried about them.  How else can you find out who you are unless you put a bit of space between you and your parents.  Sometimes that is distance – or it’s culture or lifestyle or values. 

The irony of course is that now they’re back – and inviting us to share in the job of rearing the next generation.  To our great delight.

Every family faces challenges.  Relationships can be dysfunctional and fragile.  Nothing is perfect – far from it.  I may indeed be getting like my father but I can’t help it.  So today let’s think of the heroes of family life – the people who bind together, who forgive and even  forget, who care, remember and enrich.

God of the whole human family

Bind us together in love and respect

Across generations and cultures

That our love for each other

May reflect your love for us

Amen.