Make Your Circle A Little Tighter

One of my dear friends had a wonderful family, a family that God has blessed through the generations. His family members were some of the giants in the Church, and they were some of the most gracious people that I have ever met. I generally refer to his mother as one of the godliest people that I have ever known.

Whenever I had the opportunity, I would ask my friend about his family. On one occasion we were riding together and he told me about a sad event in the life of the family.

His mother told how her father gathered the family together every night. Her father would set chairs for the entire family and then lead the family with Bible reading and prayer.

She also told how her brother tragically died in a sawmill accident.

That night, in the midst of their grief, her father carefully placed the same number of chairs as he normally did. My friend’s mother said that as they sat down all of the children looked at each other, wondering what their father would say and do. Did he really mean to set a chair for the deceased brother?

After they were seated, her father slowly stood and quietly removed the brother’s chair and then said these words: “We’re going to all have to make our circle a little tighter.”

I’ve never forgotten those words. I asked my friend: “Did your grandfather know psychology?” He said, “He was never taught psychology.” We both agreed that though he had never studied psychology he had a great understanding of psychology and the needs of humans.

We all need to make our circles a little tighter. Our families, our churches, and our friends need to care for one another more and more. It’s what the Bible says: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). When our circles are tighter, we will find the help that we need in the hard times of life.

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