Shocking Things You May Not Know About Me

My book is called, The Invincible Family. Because of this, some people may mistakenly believe my message is that families will always remain intact, that family living is one big bowl of cherries, that strong families (including my own) will avoid serious problems, and that there is no room for people and families of differing backgrounds in the family movement.

To shed some light on this, here is some information that might be useful:

• Two members of my family of origin have been divorced.

• My husband's brother is gay.

• Our nephew is gay.

• Two of my husband's brothers have been married to the same woman; one of those brothers has had children by at least five different women

• An extended family member had an elective double mastectomy last year, uses “they/she” pronouns, and is raising their son as “gender non-conforming.”

• My mother-in-law (rest her soul) was the most negative person I’ve ever personally known and was an emotionally abusive mother.

• I never met my father-in-law because he died of cancer when my husband was 17, leaving seven children, a beleaguered marriage, and a strained financial situation behind.

• While my five children bring me great joy, we have also suffered unimaginably painful problems in our family.

• Marriage brings me joy, but it is also the source of significant challenges at times.

• One of the best and fiercest advocates for the family I know is a woman who got married after 40, never had children, and is now a widow.

• One of the most committed family advocates I know was physically and emotionally abused in her marriage, got divorced, and has been living and working as a single mom for years.

• One of the most earnest advocates for mothers, babies, and families I’ve ever known is a beautiful woman in her forties who never married or had children (she recently died of cancer.)

• One of the most enthusiastic family advocates I know has been married three times and has endured infidelity, emotional abuse, and porn addiction of multiple spouses.

After all this, I still advocate for families.

Why?

I do not advocate for moms, dads, and families because I believe they are perfect; I advocate for families because they are GOOD. In fact, they’re the best God’s got.

I believe that while God knew that the family was the best possible hope for his children, he also knew that families would not be perfect (mostly because we are not perfect).

But if we stop advocating for that which is good because it is imperfect, we will soon find ourselves lost in all that is bad and worst in the world. We must advocate for the family even though family living is not flawless or easy. And while it is often in our families that difficult situations arise, it is also our families that help us get through most of the worst things in life.

In our efforts to support and sustain the family, let’s inspire people, whoever they are and wherever they are, and help them find a home in the family movement. There is room for everyone. Because everyone is already—irrevocably—part of God’s family.

With love,

Kimberly