I’m not sure I knew this but a step-family is called a blended family. Funny thing is I thought a blended family would be akin to a mixed-race family – a blending of races.
So I guess I have been a part of a blended family since I’ve had three step-dads and one step-mom.

My blend of family was not a pleasant one. It certainly wasn’t as fun and adventurous as The Brady Bunch.

A year or so after my mom and dad divorced, mom remarried a man that had been a friend of the family during the final year of their marriage.
He had just gone through a divorce himself.
So in my mind I saw him as an intruder and perhaps the cause of the breakup of my family.

My relationship with him was rocky. I was a rebellious teenager and did not want someone that was not my dad telling me what to do.

The sad thing is mom divorced him too!

I know all blended families are not like my case. Many are very happy and loving. Many times the step-dad/mom is the only parent that the children ever know.

As I sat thinking about these things this morning, I began to wonder how many step-families exist in the Bible. One came to mind immediately.

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. Matt 1:18-20, 24-25

Our Savior was raised in a blended family. His Father is God but He was raised by Joseph.

What I find fascinating by this account is God CHOSE the man that would raise His own Son. If I would have had a choice I would have voted for my mom and dad to stay married.
But that did not happen.

Chances are I would not be writing this Morning Thought had they stayed together.
I may never have moved to East Texas. I would not have gone to Bible College. I would not have met Linda, fell in love, and married her. I would not have surrendered to the Gospel ministry. I would not be pastor of CrossRoads. I would not be an on-air personality at two Christian radio stations.
I would not have the children or grandchildren that I have.

For all the emotional pain and suffering that my blended family may have brought, I am very happy to be where I am today. It is my life through living in a blended family that has partially made me what I am today.

I think I can now understand a bit more something that Paul said – I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:11-13

All in all I would say that my life is well blended and I am content with where this journey has brought me. And the journey isn’t over!