Representin’ the Family

“God was going to do something, for someone and us, with that situation.”

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV

Our kids are preteens/teens so they are constantly off doing things with other people or at sports, etc. It’s not like when they were toddlers and were under our watchful eye all the time. When they are about to get out of the car, I say, “Remember to represent the family well.” Meaning: everything you do or say directly represents our family, our morals, values, etc. You are a constant family representative. 

We were at a sporting event for one of our kids (if you ever wonder to yourself what I’m doing, the answer is always sports). The officials were letting things get out of hand. Kids were getting hurt, adults were getting fiery, tempers flaring. At the end of the game, officials and adults alike were screaming at each other. The coaches and the team refused to line up to say good game, even with the other team lined up. 

I carefully watched my son. I wanted to see his reaction. He was clearly distraught and was taking his time gathering his stuff, being the only one left on the team still in the gym. I rushed down the bleachers and went up to him. He said, “Mom, they didn’t say ‘good game’ to the other team.” I responded, “I know. Do you want to go over by yourself?” He said that he did. He quickly went over and told the team ‘good game’. As he was walking away I heard a boy on the other team say, “he’s the only one that came over to say that.” 

Later that day, we talked about what the right thing to do was in that situation. How his actions impacted the other team. I told him that as incredibly difficult as that was as a young kid with his own emotions, he represented the family well in that moment. Not just our immediate family but our Christian family as well. 

God will do something, for someone and us, with that situation. 

And isn’t that what God is asking us to do? “...whatever you do in word or deed…” to represent the family well. It might be hard, it might be embarrassing, it might make you stand out, it might go against what you’re feeling at that moment. But do it. And give Him thanks for what He’s going to do with it afterward. 

Action Steps: 

• In what ways has God used you to represent His ‘family’? Reflect on that and thank Him for those opportunities. I call these spiritual markers. The moments that are so orchestrated by God and build our faith. 

• Ask Him to use you, to give you opportunities to represent His family well. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here I am. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8 NIV 

Written by Abbey, momager of 3 preteens/teens

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