A Beautiful Family Bonding Experience

What is it that just brings your family together? You know, where no one is on the phone, on the computer. No one is fighting. The whole family comes together for some quality time. Those momement are few and far between here. With 5 kids, someone is always talking or doing something!

But the past couple of Sundays, we've had a whole hour of peace. A time when we gather to enjoy the same thing. Are you wondering what our secret is? Okay, because I love you, I'll share it with you. Our local ABC station has started airing reruns of this wholesome, family show:

No nothing brings a family together like watching people try to cross the Big Balls or run the Dreadmill as they duck a huge wrecking ball or swim in a huge vat of foam! Yes, nothing brings a family like laughing at the pain of people dumb enough to actually go on this show!!

Peace on Earth In Mercy Mired.........

I really cannot explain what a car ride is like with the Jobe Crew. Loud, yes, but more than that. So much more.

Last night was Parent's Night Out at Sharonville UMC. This is where Kevin and I have our church membership. In the United Methodist system, pastors hold membership at a church where they are not pastoring. Anyway, shortly after 9 PM, we were all headed back home. The kids were wired!

They had seen parts of Wall-E. They started out talking about that and every few minutes, the entire way home, Ella would pipe up with, "Wall-E waked up!"

The moon was out, so Risi, every few minutes, would howl at it. Risi has this thing about dogs.

Josiah, Olivia, and Grace alternated between singing, fighting and yelling from the back of the car up to where Kevin and I sat up in the front.

I was driving and giggling most of the way home. It was crazy. And just when it got a little less chaotic, Risi would howl, or Ella would tell us "Wall-E waked up!" And when they didn't do it, I would, and we would laugh harder.

At one point Grace was singing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." (The conversation had switched to a Charlie Brown Christmas . )

But Grace had the words a bit mixed up....

"...glory to the newborn King.
Peace on earth
In mercy mired..."

I was looking at definitions of "mired". To sink into. To be held fast by.

And mercy? Compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender.

An offender, that is you and me. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23

A misunderstood song, sung gustily by a young girl. Mired in mercy. I am covered by, sunk into and held fast by mercy. I can certainly think of worse things to be covered with.

Peace on Earth, In Mercy Mired.


Thank you, Jesus.

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