Everybody's Family is Crazy


Don’t laugh.  I finally saw the movie, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”  At this time of year, it’s actually fitting to watch a movie about family.  In the film, Toula’s family is one huge, loud, gregarious, tight-knit Greek family.  Over the course of the movie, Toula evolves into an independent spirit yet still embarrassed by her Greek heritage.  Her family is taken aback by the change they see in Toula.  She takes charge of her life, choosing a new way of life with a man who is not Greek to the horror of her father.  Her determination to explore the world and allow herself to love someone outside the confines of her culture inspires her brother to begin to think for himself, results in her parents learning to embrace her husband and in the last scene culminates in her father and mother-in-law joining the celebration.  Toula became the catalyst for changing the dynamics of a family.
John 7:2-5
2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Acts 1:14
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The hardest people to be convinced that God has changed your life are family.  It does not matter how long you have lived a blameless life before them, you are still the rebellious one they knew as a child.  The brothers of Jesus remembered the time Jesus stayed behind unbeknownst to His parents who then frantically returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. His brothers could not fathom that their brother could be the Christ.  Jesus did not argue with his brothers, exclude them from His presence or disclaim them as family.  He continued His ministry of love to them and to those suffering and in need.  Eventually, they came around.  Try loving that family member, keep doing what you know is right and like Toula, you can become the change agent for your family.



































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