Can You Have Half a Brother?

          While speaking at a women’s conference an adorable young mom came up and introduced herself to me. I always love meeting women face to face and hearing about their lives. It wasn’t long before we were talking about our kids. I went on and asked, “Tell me about your family. How many kids do you have?”

           “We have three children. My nine year old son is from my husband’s first marriage. Our seven year old and five year old daughters are our biological children.” She smiled.

            I wanted to cry. This sweet gal, without knowing it had touched a tender spot in me. It happens quite often, actually. If I were one to build a soap box, I’d climb up high above the crowd to speak about labeling children in blended families. While it was great she called her “un” biological child her son, she set him apart from the rest of the family and told me he was different.  

            Why does this pain me so?

           Because our family is blended. We come from broken beginnings.

            According to national statistics, 48% of all families will end in divorce. From that number, 79% of the adults will remarry two and even three times. That’s a boatload of families attempting to put the pieces of their lives back together again. And, what about foster families? Dont’ forget international adoptions and lets not overlook relatives raising little ones.

Broken Beginnings

            When I recently sat down with Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, he asked me the ages of my children then followed up by asking how long I’ve been married. When I mention our daughter is twenty years old, then share Paul and I’ve been married almost fifteen years, it’s not hard to do the math.

            “You’re a blended family?” He kindly asked.

            “Our family comes from broken beginnings.” I shared. “I married really young and had two little ones before my divorce. My husband and I weren’t Christians. I don’t say that to make an excuse for my divorce but to let you know just how selfish our world was at the time. I know now that God can breathe life into dead things.” I smiled and went on to share all God had done in our lives to make things new and whole again.

             Jim Daly just smiled and listened. Finally he quietly asked, “Why aren’t you writing a book about this?”

God Doesn’t Call Me His Stepchild

             If people don’t know our family intimately, they’re always surprised to discover we are a blended family. We don’t use the word “blended”. It’s not that it’s forbidden, it’s just never been used. Any labels like half sibling or stepchild make me physically ill. I don’t even know how you can have half a brother, half a child?

            When I gave my life to Christ I became His. He doesn’t call me His stepchild.The scriptures say, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 He adopted me and calls me His. I’m not Jewish, yet He loves me as His own chosen daughter. He makes no delineation between the promises He makes to me, or any of His children. His word says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2Corinthians 5:17

            So, why do we label and set apart our own children?

4 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Loved

            For those of you who may have never thought of this before–Here are a few gentle suggestions from one blended family who has been there.

• Never introduce your son or daughter by sharing they’re your “stepchild” or explain they aren’t your “biological” child. Nothing hurts a little one more than being reminded they are different—especially from their parents.
•  Always introduce your son or daughter as just that. I can hear some of you now. “But, what if my stepson won’t call me mom?” Or, “He already has a mom.” Then they shouldn’t call you mom. But, nothing is stopping you from introducing him as your son. It gives a child value and boosts their security and self esteem when they feel they are loved and belong.
• Never share the whole story. No one needs a play by play about your family’s history. Especially when your children are present. Save the intimate details for your best friend and doctor.
•  Always gently correct those who label. I understand people are curious and don’t mean any ill will. When my daughter was working at a coffee house a woman came in and said, “I didn’t realize Samuel was your half-brother.” Meghan was taken aback. She’d never heard that before and kindly corrected her. “Samuel is my brother.”

           I’m not one to get tattoos, but if I were, Revelation 21:5 would be the verse I’d have engraved in bold and swirly cursive letters, “Behold He is making all things new.” Whether you’re in a blended family or are a single parent, remember, God is in the “new things” business. It’s His specialty.

          If God can seamlessly put back together the broken pieces of our family, if He can raise His son from the dead–He can raise your family from the ashes, too.