A challenge to you

Dear grandkids (kids)

As you have aged we notice that a number of you have taken up drinking alcohol. Wait a minute before you react! We are not here to tell you that alcohol is sin, or that the Bible teaches against it, or that you will become an alcoholic.

However, we would like for you to think deeply about it before simply imbibing. Let us divide our thoughts into three areas: spiritual, family history and your witness to each other.

The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:18-20, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Of course, we can drink alcohol without debauchery. But, the emphasis in these verses is not on the negative but on the positive. Allow your life to be focused on joyous celebration, and encouragement to each other.

Life can be tough enough. Exchanging substitute sources of relaxation, temporary contentment, a temporary buzz, or whatever, can never replace the joy that God has designed for you and your extended family.

The family you have been born into has people in it who have struggled with alcohol. Some overwhelmed by it, others simply admitting that they had allowed alcohol to be an elixir for anxiety or emotional fatigue.

Finally, what one does, can all too often give license and unseen encouragement to another to do the same. The one can consume minimal amounts with control. The other has addictive streams in them that causes them to lose control.

We would love to think that for the rest of your lives you will all be conscious of “blessing” each other, and, what is “the good” for your other family members. The members who are now part of the “Smith” clan, and those to come!!

We want to simply encourage you to think about what you do with your desires, bodies and, the trajectory of your lives.

We love you

Dwight and Patti