Dysfunction

Dysfunction: Abnormal or impaired functioning. As I think about this as I was raised in what I would call a dysfunctional home. As children we learn methods of coping. The parents we had and the parents we were, did the best they knew. I learned that I wasn't the only one or our family wasn't the only one. So the first word in the dictionary to explain dysfunction is Abnormal and it doesn't seem to fit, because in reality there are many, many, many dysfunctional homes. So is dysfunction abnormal? Impaired functioning seems to fit. I tried the best I knew in raising my children, but here I was from a dysfunctional Christian home. I had learned coping skills to survive in my home I grew up in. I believe my saving grace  was knowing God and having a relationship with Jesus. I couldn't talk at home but I could talk to him. Even as a very young boy of 5 or 6, I had learned to talk to God about  problems. Even in Christian homes there is impaired functioning and it messes us up. Sometimes it is about control, or appearances. I needed someone to guide me and bring me up in the real world and I lacked proper parental guidance in my home. I brought many of those traits into my own home with my own children. It was that relationship with God the creator of us all that allowed me or guided me to fix some of my thinking. I could talk, I can discuss issues now. But for much of my life I could not and kept stuff bottled up. The legalistic environment was difficult for me, perfection was taught but I knew I wasn't perfect and I saw my flaws. The concern about appearances over reality played into this. But God and my relationship with him has brought me a long ways. I learned I could talk to God about my flaws and he understood better than any parent I couldn't talk to. God was gracious and kind, his sole purpose in working in my life was totally for my betterment. He doesn't worry about appearances, or what people might think, he is God. He is trust worthy, he has my best interests at heart. We can look at how he dealt with dysfunctional people in the Bible and he brought them thru in victory. Joseph's brothers threw him into a pit, sold him into slavery and he became second in authority over the whole land of Egypt.  Then there was King David before he became King. His dad didn't even consider him when he brought his sons before the prophet. Yet he became King. We can talk about Abraham and Sarah, and how Sarah gave her maidservant to her husband for a second wife that she could have children thru her maid. It wasn't God's plan and it didn't work. But God still came thru in her old age.  Impaired functioning is all over and yet God would work with people and bring his will to pass. Abnormal just doesn't fit, it seems to be almost normal it is so widespread. I was not alone, my family is not the only one that was messed up. In fact look at Adam and Eve and their children,  it started a long time ago.  I have that assurance today, God will work in my life and bring his will to pass. I am so thankful for this relationship with God. I can trust him to fix it, what ever it is, and God has my best interest at heart. He is gracious and kind and over looked my fault and saw my need, like the song says. O loving God, thank you for being in my life and working in me even to today. God bless, LVZ.