I'm the runt.

I grew up as the youngest in a family of 6 kids. Overshadowed, under-appreciated, overlooked, left-out, left-home, and misunderstood were all feelings I went through growing up. My mom would tell you that I wasn't supposed to be born, I was kind-of and accident. I don't know where you fit in in your family, or where you don't fit in, but I imagine you have days where you might like to pick someone else's family for a try.

Being part of a family is the hardest and yet....the most meaningful part of life we can ever have. Being in your family might bug you so bad you want to move to China. On the other hand, your family is why you have life, shelter, food, protection, and embarrassing family reunions. Believe me, when it comes to dysfunctional families mine just might take the blue ribbon! Maybe you are asking the question I have been asking for years; "Can I possibly continue to be a Harris?" Well... you probably don't want to be a Harris, so substitute your own last name in there.

There are two very dysfunctional families you and I are familiar with but often overlook. Both David and Joseph in the Old Testament came from Grade A, First Class dysfunction!

Joseph had one real brother, 10 step brothers, and at least 2 step sisters from 3 different mothers. Jacob, his father, essentially had 4 wives. Joseph and his parents lived with his grandparents for years before sneaking off deceitfully. Rachel, Joseph's mother could never make up her mind whether she would worship God or idols. His parents were deceitful, his step-sister was raped, and his brothers destroyed a town. Then while Joseph's mother, Rachel, was giving birth to his little brother she died. So... here sits Joseph, 17 without a mother, trying to figure out where he fits in with his violent brothers who despise him and a passive father who babies him. Could anything good come from such a dysfunctional family, or from Joseph? (Gen. 29-50)

David was the youngest son of 8. He was the runt. He was always left-out and left-home. When his family was asked to present themselves for the selection of the next king of Israel, his father left him out in the field watching the sheep. The most important ceremony for his entire family and they didn't even think to bring him! No one in his family thought he would ever become anything special. No one thought he had what it took. His brothers ridiculed him and looked down on him. So....here sits David, 17 with a father who ignores him, and brothers who bully him. Could anything good come from such a dysfunctional family, or from David? (I Sam. 16-31)

Both Joseph and David could have won medals for putting up with their families. They were both misunderstood, under-appreciated, over-looked, and left-home. But God did something miraculous, he used them and their families to change the course of human history. Without Joseph his entire family and the Egyptian civilization would have been erased from the face of the earth. Without David Israel would have been destroyed and forgotten. There was nothing too far gone about these families that God couldn't redeem. All he needed was someone with a willing and obedient heart.

No matter what kind of family you have, God has put you there for a reason. You may not see it today, but some day soon you will understand. God is still looking for someone to step up with a willing and obedient heart to him. He is waiting to use you to fulfill a powerful purpose. With God you are never misunderstood, under-appreciated, over-looked and left-home. He is ready if you are ready. Not even your crazy family can hold you back from becoming what God created you to be.

Who knows... you may be the next one to change the course of human history!

-Josh