Editor’s note: For the month of August, our focus scripture can be found in 1 Corinthians 12:27 where it says that “Now you, collectively, are Christ’s body, and individually, you are members of it, each with his own special purpose and function.” AMP
Being the oldest of six in a Hispanic family, I had a big responsibility to help my mom take care of the house and my siblings. Then one day, because of problems within my parents’ marriage, my mother left and my father and I were completely on our own raising the family. At just 12 years old, I found myself broken, angry, bitter, not knowing where I belonged in my family, and who I was. This led me to believe lies about myself and in general family life.
Then at the age of 14 years old I found myself pregnant with my first child, still dealing with the same issues of my past. But God is so good! He never leaves us where we are at. He is always working on our behalf and for our future. He has done it for me and is still continuing to do his work in my life. I know he will do the exact same for you! “I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banished them in my furious anger; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will go well for them and for their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.” Jeremiah 32:37-40 (NIV)
When I was pregnant with my 4th child, I came to a point in my life where I had lived in so much brokenness and hurt. I didn’t feel like I was a good person, good mom, good enough for anything. This is when I surrendered my life to God and the real journey of healing began. I came to a place where I was honest to deal with what was in my heart and my past. If we are not careful to find healing in Jesus, we will just pass on all our hurts and sin to our children. After this, God began healing and redeeming this area of my life. It allowed God to start transforming how I was with my children and also our home life.
God has healed my brokenness and has freed me from living in anger and bitterness. God is still healing and redeeming my life but it had to begin with me.
Here are some truths God has shown me about myself:
I belong! I am loved! I’m a vital part in my family, desperately needed in the body of Christ. I am exactly who God made me to be and what this world needs. I hope that you will choose to believe and accept this truth for yourself too!
1 Corinthians 12-18talks about how the human body has many parts and all the parts make up one body. It is the same way with the body of Christ. We, as the body of Christ, have many different parts but are one body and one spirit. Some of us are the hands, feet, eyes, ears and nose. Nevertheless none of us is less than the other.
Those living parts are also found in your home among your own family members. Every person in my family contributes to the life in my house and we definitely would not be the same if even one of them was missing.
In 2010, I married my husband, Andrew. Coming into the marriage, I had four children and he had three. The first four years of our marriage, we fought for custody of his children. By 2015, we had won custody of all three of them. In 2018, my special needs niece was going to be awarded to the state so our family stepped in. We said “Yes” to opening up our home to another child.
Just when we thought our lives were full, God surely didn’t think so! After praying and hearing God for what is right for our family, I had a tubal reversal surgery and here we are welcoming a baby boy in September.
Having a large, blended family is difficult at times. I’m not a super mom and could never do this on my own strength. It’s always dependent on God and where he leads my husband and me. Through all the hard times (financially, emotionally and blending a family with different backgrounds), I have NEVER regretted saying yes to my husband and to every child God offered to me.
As I think about the Body of Christ, I can’t help but think how we all look like a blended family, too. God calls people from every race, color, different background and past. He puts us together to form one body, His bride. My prayer is that you, too, will see yourself and your family as Christ sees them, as the body of Christ in both your home and the church.
We would like to thank Brenda Martinez for writing this blog post.
Women's Ministry 