Welcome to the Family

Welcome to the family
We’re glad that you have come
To share your life with us
As we grow in love
And may we always be to you
What God would have us be
A family always there
To be strong and to lean on
May we learn to love each other
More with each new day
May words of love be on our lips
In everything we say
May the Spirit melt our hearts
And teach us how to pray
That we might be, a true family

The melody is probably ringing along as you read the lyrics above I suppose. We all know this song - it’s a Sunday school song after all.

But it’s always peculiar how when we think these lyrics are just something nice to sing along though when asked to obey, it’s just so difficult.

“Welcome to the family
We’re glad that you have come”

Honestly, how often do we welcome new family members well? And how about new comers “coming” to us in a manner that they are ready to commit in being part of the family? As for myself, I remembered doing both ways horribly when I first entered TTDI. Today, after many years disappearing and then returning to church, God has placed His hands upon me into this church and finally felt the joy of being welcomed and to welcome others.

“To share your life with us
As we grow in love”

Share, wow, that’s a big word! Obviously I don’t mean just sharing with where are you studying and that you like playing HoN and all that. When we’re talking about “sharing your life” in Christian family context, we’re talking about your joy and dreams as well as your deep pain and struggles. That’s a lot of trust and vulnerability we’re talking about. Until today, only one person knows much more of my deep struggles compared to the rest. But I also realize that I’m only close to that one person and I’m losing the joy of being close to others as well.

Grow, yet another huge word. If you ever tried rearing a pet or do gardening, I’m sure you understand what it means to commit in growing that life and not letting it die. Then again, you could grow them in any manner you want, whether you’re lazy and you’ll simply treat it and when you’re in a good mood, you’ll treat it well. The lyric says “as we grow in LOVE” ! That’s both parties working on a committed, loving relationship. I admit that sometimes, I do feel really tired from work and often excuse myself from committing in caring for my other brothers and sisters. But, I need to remember that commitment is never about feelings, commitment is about doing it regardless of feelings.

“What God would have us be
A family always there
To be strong and to lean on”

“A family always there” I think sometimes we often think that being there means just waiting for someone to find you when they’re at trouble. But have we ever wondered that sometimes people may be too afraid to reach out when they’re down or wondered anyone would ever know they’re down because no one ever asked first? Let’s not just attend YF & Sunday service only, go that extra mile and make a call, drop a text and just say “Just dropping by to say hi  “ Don’t you like to know that people actually made the effort to let you know that they are thinking of you despite of their crazy schedule?

“To be strong and to lean on”

Being “strong” means you got to be the one giving more than you should be receiving! Don’t be a dead weight in the family and just keep expecting people to care. You should be wondering which family members’ need can I meet today? I remembered once depending on a sister too much, it really affected our relationship because she’s afraid I’m leaning on her more than I should be leaning on God! I should be strong enough to remember that God’s Grace is sufficient, for His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses (2 Corinth 12:9)

“May we learn to love each other
More with each new day”

Learning to love one another is really a challenge. Do you stop learning to love someone just because you may have hurt the person (or got hurt) unintentionally in the process? Or did you stop learning because we have strayed away from God? Sometimes we fail to understand that learning to love is not about us feeling good about it. That’s the reason why people stop “loving”- they expect a nice, grateful, warm and loving response from the other party. Love comes the greatest when it is least deserving, where the greatest example, “Amazing Grace”! Learn to love, come what may.
There was once whilst I’m learning to love a person, we got into a huge deep conflict that got both of us cut real deep. But I told God that I love this person genuinely and I refuse to allow either my pride, fear or selfishness to stop me from continue loving this person. It took months before we finally patched up, but it was so worth it because I’ve truly learnt to love this person even better now!

“May words of love be on our lips
In everything we say”

Gossips, dirty jokes and cynical remarks. If all of these are very common to your lips then it is time to ask yourself honestly, have you been a good family member to your family?

“In everything (love) we say”

Don’t just stop with not saying those negative words, when is the last time you sincerely praise and encourage a family member in church?

“May the Spirit melt our hearts
And teach us how to pray
That we might be, a true family”

Last but not least, Christ as our head as He left us with the Holy spirit. Together as one body we come in prayer and to finish the race together – “That we might be, a true family”

In this year’s youth theme – The amazing race, family edition. Let’s go through this race with this simple yet meaningful song kept in our minds. Remember that the joy we can have in the family can only go as far as we are willing to give, not take!


- Gary Heng

Images are taken from :
http://www.messiahroseau.net/
http://markosullivan.ca/category/uncategorized/
http://www.cackaloo.com/2007/11/
http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/limiting-free-speech-4-derogatory-speech/
http://my.ydjesus.org/