By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

My wife and I recently hosted our thirty-third annual July 4th cookout for our family at our house.  We started when it was just the two of us, our parents, and three siblings.  This year there were twenty of us able to attend, with at least six or eight missing.  Enjoying time with our family members is something we greatly cherish.  

There are different age brackets, occupations, and school grades represented.  Opinions are expressed and shared.  Our conversations vary as greatly as the food items we have each provided.  And we love it.  Even with the backyard slap-your-sibling-with-a-tortilla game, we laugh and have a great time together before it’s time for us all to return to our separate lives, locations, and jobs.

The goose, pony, and cat in my picture somewhat represent our family.  Diverse, yet all getting along, all loving and supporting one another.  A goose, a cat, and a pony have virtually nothing in common except for the space they occupy.  Some families are like that.  God’s family is sometimes like that as well.

I believe God loves diversity.  After all, he made us this way.  If every crayon in the box was the same color, it wouldn’t paint a very pretty picture, would it?  If every barnyard animal was alike, they wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining.  What a wonderful family we all are because of our differences.

We celebrate our great country’s birthday this month.  If only we all got along as well as these three critters.  What a wonderful world that would be.

You animals behave yourselves this week.

Just a thought.