It’s Hard Work – And It’s Worth It

Family.

You can’t live with ’em. You can’t shoot ’em.

When we are little, we dream of growing up and having a wonderful husband (wife), beautiful children, and a fantastic life as a family. We think it will all come together and will play out just like a fairy tale.

And then we grow up, get married, have kids, and reality sets in.

It’s hard to do life with other people, especially ones we live with under the same roof.

It’s hard not to lose it when you appreciate tidiness and cleanliness and the rest of your family doesn’t. But you have a choice: enjoy the people you live with, mess and all, or alienate them by expecting them to cater to your needs.

It’s hard not to hold a grudge when your husband (wife) does something that really hurts you. But you have a choice: forgive and move on, or build up a wall that puts a wedge between you.

It’s hard to deal with the fact that we don’t always get what we need, much less what we want, and yet the very language of living in community is one of give and take that ebbs and flows. Sometimes we give more, sometimes we take more.

It’s hard not to look out for number one when our culture tells us we have to do what is best for “me.” But, ultimately, what is best for “me” has to be what is best for “us,” and that is not always an easy choice.

Marriage is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, sharing not just the contents of our days but of our hearts. We have to speak truth into one another and into our relationship.

Parenting is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, teaching, loving, nurturing. We have to speak truth into our children.

Being a family is hard AND it is work. It isn’t something that we can just let slide. We have to be intentional in spending time with one another, laughing, talking, crying, learning. We have to speak truth into one another and our relationship as a family.

Today I am praying for families all over that are struggling. For husbands and wives that aren’t connecting like they should be. For parents and children whose lines of communication are failing. For families that are coming apart at the seams. My prayer for them is for reconciliation and healing. My challenge to them is to do the hard work that is necessary to hold your family together. That means prayer. That means selflessness. That means forgiveness. That means asking for help. That means offering grace where needed. That means looking at yourself and asking where you need to let God work. And none of that is easy. But it’s worth it.

I would love to hear your stories about family trials that have been hard, but worth it.

Worth It

Album: Hundred More Years

Artist: Francesca Battistelli

Love’s not a feeling
Love’s not convenient
But I know love will change your life
Love takes sacrifice
Love cuts like a knife
Sometimes love will make you cry
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Love is a hunger
But love won’t leave you empty
See it’s the language of the heart
Love can steal your pride
But love won’t let you hide
It takes everything you’ve got
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

(Chorus)
What you gonna do when the bottom falls out
And you’re left with nothing but your fear and your doubt to hold to
Who will hold you?
Where you gonna run when it’s all on the line
And you’re looking for someone to save your life
To save your life

Love can hear you
Love can heal you
If you let it inside
Oh, remember now
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

(Chorus)
What you gonna do when the bottom falls out
And you’re left with nothing but your fear and your doubt to hold to
Who’s gonna hold you?
Oh, where you gonna run when it’s all on the line
And you’re looking for someone to save your life
To save your life

Love can hear you
I know love will heal you
If you let it inside
Oh, remember now
Love’s not easy
But it’s worth it

Words & Music By: Francesca Battistelli / Sam Mizell