We Blend- A 21 Day Devotional

By Casaundra McNair and Gregory McNair

Are you a single parent with children? Are you a blended family? Now what?? Take a journey through the scriptures for 21 days as we examine your relationship with God, yourself, and your blended family. Through these 21 days, our prayer is that you walk away with a stronger foundation as you prepare for, start or continue your blended family jo

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gregory & Casaundra McNair
• Release date: May 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9780999397329

Book preview

Preface



Line

Culture... the mode that gives us experiences that mold and shape our understanding and perspective of life.  Change is inevitable as we go through life, but where many struggle is finding people, methods and means to help them navigate through its realities and disappointing moments.  Everyone’s reality plays out differently due to how they were socialized to think, move and speak. Therefore, it is important that we surround ourselves with those who help us remain true to who we are while assisting in revamping our overall perspectives that may have been steeped in previous lifestyles compromised by misfortunes and underachieved dreams.  We often hear the phrase, life goes on.  But the reality is, we often experience life altering moments or times which cause us to be discouraged and ask the question, how?  Through the next 21 days, we hope to provide you with some encouragement on your journey.

At the time of this writing we are currently in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives to the fight against COVID-19. Millions of people have had to fight through extremely physical complications that totally changed the quality of their lives. Companies have shut down; dozens are without jobs. People have lost housing, schools have been closed. While most working adults and students alike have been held hostage to communicate with each other through the aspect of via zoom or some form of video chat. Churches, restaurants, movie theaters and other indoor facilities are closed or limited to only receive a small percentage of the individuals that they would normally take in for worship or customer service. Ladies and gentlemen, this has been a time of great uncertainty and unparalleled time of adjusting in the moment.

Consequently, what has helped many to get through this is accepting the fact that adjustments of everyday life have to be made.  There is no more things going back to normal.  As we are seeing the light at the end of this tunnel, a new normal is emerging.  We have gone through a time in history where adequate adjustments weren’t good enough, but major life changes had to be made to preserve the life of your loved ones and yourself.

Likewise to the death of a relationship or marriage. You did not think it would end like this.  Neither did you think that you could be a single mother or father, preparing to marry with children or remarry and blend two or more families.  But guess what? You are here.  As you are experiencing the transition to your new normal, it is important for you to know that you and I aren’t made to handle life alone. While there are many who would say individualistic statements like, I’m good or I don’t need help with anything, the truth is we all were wired to accept and thrive in community to deal with life’s challenges. Think of some of the world's most beloved and even notorious leaders in history. They all needed help accomplishing their goals in propagating their agendas and corralling dozens of people to align with what they were pushing. Even some who we may consider as the most introverted individuals thrive when around others with whom they can relate. It is in the moments of our greatest difficulty or triumph that reveal to us the power of connectivity to the right people. The fruit of the right relationships and connections that have been established, always play out in the choices we make, manner by which we respond and strength to pursue a holistic life. 

One of the greatest custodians of justice, equity, equality and peace, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools. Now, it must be understood that this type of effective living has more to do with being able to honor the differences of the other connected parties while maintaining a sense of personal responsibility to who you are and what you have been graced to do in the world.

One of the greatest entities of our community that is an important part of the fabric of our society is family. Family is the nurturing concept that has shaped the social construct of our world’s history. It is the incubator by which communities are developed, culture is established, and motives are aligned. While in most cases family may not be by choice, we do have a choice in how it operates and how we operate. It is safe to say that no family is perfect or endowed with unblemished realities. However, it injects into society the hope of positive opportunities for love and acceptance.

God’s will is that family provides society with comfort, correction and confidence that leaves a lasting mark for generations. Even though the narrative of families and their structures seem to