Ray Family Update from May 2016

As much as possible, I keep these letters informative regarding ongoing works/ministries of the church. As I see it, my family life would be included in this. On one hand, a preacher must be cautious not to speak too often or too highly of his family lest the saints of God put the family under the microscope and become critical. The truth is, I know the weaknesses of my family, but I also know their strengths and the work that God has wrought in their lives. I would be remiss if I did not mention the goodness of God in my life specifically in the area of the wife and children He has given me.

The Lord knew the wife I would need and gradually prepared her to be my help meet. Most see her as feisty and candid, but few know the pain and heartache she feels when others refuse to do right. People think her to be tough, but the fact is that she is often far more willing to tell people the truth they so desperately need to hear than I am. Call it what you will . . . I call that love. Though she always had a seed of this within, her own difficulties maturing into the wife she is today formed within her a strong desire to give tough love to others in hopes of helping them reach their own God-given potential.

Additionally, God has blessed me with five uniquely wonderful children. I marvel how each of their personalities strongly match their given names.

Noah—The first time the Bible uses the word comfort is in regard to the birth of Noah (Genesis 5:29). I do not know that I have had a close relationship with anyone as comforting, tenderhearted, considerate, and kind as Noah. He is not afraid to stand out if need be, but does not need to be seen in order to thrive.

Hannah—Hannah, on the other hand, requires the shadows. This is my impression of the Hannah in scripture. She loved deeply, hurt deeply, and wished for things deeply, but had no desire to get attention in doing so.

Sara—Sara . . . not so much. She is full of life. She enjoys mischievousness. One day, she is going to make some man extremely happy and extremely insane, all in the same day. She will have no problem expressing her opinion to her husband only to blame him when it goes wrong. Mixed in with that is a girl who openly loves people, church, and singing.

Charity—Perhaps none of my children’s names fit them better than Charity. She will, no doubt, change a great deal over the years, but she is softhearted, caring, compassionate, loving, forgiving, and selfless. She is the mother of all who will accept her as such, and even of some who will not.

Isaac—We jokingly call Isaac “the son of our old age” (Genesis 21:2, 7). Though Isaac is young and hard to presently associate with the Isaac of the Bible, he is a child we never expected to have and yet a great gift from God to our family.

“Happy is the man that hath his quiver full” (Psalm 127:5). What a wonderful God we serve!