This week’s Reflections was written by the Rev. Dorthy Tufte of the Brookings Ministerial Association

This past weekend I attended both a family reunion and celebrated my 45th high school class reunion. At each I experienced amazing times of deep conversations, a lot of laughter and enjoyable moments. Recollections of old times were shared. Relationships reestablished. Those who have gone before us were remembered and honored. New memories made.

These moments are priceless and precious. Family and friends. The greatest gifts I have been given here on earth. And these are not the only gifts given from a generous creator. Gifts of redemption, salvation, and relationship are ours today. He has redeemed us through His plan of salvation. And through the relationship of salvation, we can call God our Father and our Friend.

The Bible uses the metaphor of family to describe the relationships in the kingdom of God, with believers referred to as members of God’s family, Romans 9:8. Believers are called children of God, I John 3:1-2, and Galatians 4:4-7, believers are adopted into God’s family. Second Corinthians 6:18, “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” We have relationship with God. We belong to him and he to us. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John 1:12.

God is also our friend. John 15:15, Jesus says, “I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.” We can trust God to always be truthful, not abandon or reject us, and to give us good gifts, (Psalm 12:6, Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5, James 1:17, Numbers 6:24-26).

Some people do not have healthy relationships or good memories of their family of origin. Old relationships and memories of teen years may still be painful or humiliating. Isaiah 43:18 recommends, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

This suggests looking backward can prevent one from moving forward. Dwelling on one’s past can ingrain bitterness; however, delving into one’s past with a professional may bring peace. Seeking help from a spiritual mentor and/or a mental health professional is a huge step in finding hope for the future and a healthy and true self-image. Letting go of broken, controlling, and unhealthy relationships can come through understanding and valuing oneself.

Isaiah 26:3 presents one of the greatest promises found in the Old Testament: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” We can find peace over our lives as we choose to settle our thoughts on God’s work in our lives and allow his healing from a painful past and relationships. As we dwell in relationship with him, we come to celebrate his goodness to us.