Psalm 119:9 (ESV)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.

Matthew 12:48-50 (MSG)
48-50 Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

I missed keeping my way pure by a country mile. Several country miles. Many several country miles. While I was off-roading in the ways of the world, I left behind some pretty fiery crashes which I survived, not sure how my passengers did though. I didn’t guard my way, my path, at all, I just went full gusto after the worldly attractions and paid the price in wisdom gained. I do believe there are less destructive ways to gain wisdom.

I’m pretty sure my kids (for the most part, as far as I have been allowed to know, I think, etc.) haven’t missed it by too much. There’s a different life trajectory and they are on it. Interesting how quickly a change can take place between generations if the right steps are taken.

I found the Way later in life, but still early enough to get the benefits out to my children through example – they got to see the two sides through their parents – and they too chose the Way. They chose (to this point, mostly, blah, blah, blah) to keep their ways (mostly) pure. I’m amazed at what their lives look like, and even though they don’t think so, how they have less of the bad and more of the good in their lives.

Who is family Christ asks? Family is who and what you make it. We all want to guard our family from harm, free from fiery crashes. The way to make a family is keep it from getting sick, keep it pure and free from infection. The way to keep the family pure is to obey our Father’s will.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’