Day Five- Lake/Family Day

Isaiah 22:24
All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.

Today was a great day.  I was filled with such humble love and a deep gratitude for my many blessings, most of all I was shown and reminded of my greatest blessings: my husband and my two sons.  After three years of being in a bible study together me and the girls decided we wanted to do a couples weekend or family weekend.  We, as the girls, spend so much time together and share intimate details about our lives and walks with Christ that we decided we wanted our husbands and families to share time with us.  We wanted to get us all together and have some good old fashioned quality time.  My family arrived yesterday mid-day.  We were welcomed by good friends and a great view.  This lake home was incredible.  It had a wonderful layout and the back yard was kid friendly and opened up into a breath-taking view of God's beautiful landscaping; trees, mountain ridges, a lake, warm sun, and just the ever-so-slight hint of a cool breeze to top it off.   As we spent shoulder-to-shoulder time, quality time, and quiet time with our friends and their families something stuck with me.  Now I am not trying to be boastful but as the weekend unfolded I was able to gleam a breathtaking sight; four husbands carefully and thoughtfully taking care of their wives and children. 
I understand that every relationship has it's give and take but for me this weekend cinched the deal.  This weekend I witnessed husbands coming alongside their wives and loving them unconditionally.  I saw fathers and fathers-to-be embracing children besides their own and unconditionally loving them.  I witnessed husbands pouring into their wives emotional needs.  Just to think about the kind of man I have and the kind of men my friends are surrounded by makes my heart ache with joy.  It makes my soul weep with gratitude for the blessing God has rained down on us.  Now don't get me wrong, I know we will all have hard times and that nothing is perfect but I hold on to God's promise to us all and see that even when things get tough, even when things look bleak, that because of this memory I know that it will never look hopeless. 
The glory of our family should be rooted in Christ but it is true that it hangs on us.  God has given us tremendous insight and an unconditional love but it is up to us to proliferate that love and life-style.  Now that I look back on it I guess I saw more than four husbands and their actions; I was able to see, after three years spent in bible study with these girls, how two become one.  I was able to see the bond, affection, and trust God has put in us.