Tekau mā waru - Rāapa 18 Hakihea - Whānau

Day 18 - Wednesday 18 December - Whānau

He kaupapa mō te rā

Whānau

Whānau is the family to which we belong. In Māori, whānau includes the extended family. In contemporary context whānau extends to include friends who are like family, but are not related by blood or marriage.

Whanaungatanga is all about relationships. Whānau and friends can be far apart, in so many ways, for most of the year. But when there are important events e.g. tangi, weddings, birthdays, marae/community events, and Christ-mas, we all traverse back to the kainga (home) to enjoy our whakapapa ties and delight in whanaungatanga activities and stories.

He Karaipiture (Bible Reading)

Ruka/Luke 2:5-7

Kia tuhituhia ai rāua ko tāna wahine taumau, ko Meri, e hapū ana ia. ⁶Ā, i a rāua i reira, ka rite ngā rā e whānau ai ia. ⁷Nā, ka whānau tāna mātāmua, ā, takaia ana e ia ki ngā kākahu, ka whakatakotoria ki te takotoranga kai mā ngā kararehe; nō te mea kāhore he wāhi mō rātou i te whare.

(Joseph) went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger—there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

Whakarongo/Titiro Mai (Listen/Watch)

Caroline & Rebecca’s relationship embraces the core of what it means to be whānau. Previously neighbours, long-time friends, they are part of an extended ‘friends who are family’ circle of love and support for each other.

Ngā mea waihanga (Create)

This kotahitanga of dry harakeke, fallen nīkau husk, and faith, rests comfortably with living nature making us a whānau expressed in many forms. We too are part of the created whānau and take our place alongside Taiao in all her diversity.

He Whakaaroaro (Reflect)

Where do we belong? Who is in our family? There are those that we’re related to by blood or marriage like our siblings, our parents, our grandparents, our children, our grandchildren, our nieces and nephews and so on. Then there’s those friends we love as dearly as if they were also our relations. Sometimes those friends that are like family are closer than our actual relations. The concept of whānau embraces and is inclusive of a wider group than what we know of as the nuclear family or those that live in our household. Whānau is something Jesus understood throughout his lifetime. Jesus was born into a human family. He had parents and later he had siblings. He grew up surrounded by whānau and he extended those who were in his whānau to include his followers. As his followers we too belong to God’s whānau and are connected to Jesus Christ.

Whakahokia mai (Respond)

Catch up with a member of your whānau before Christ-mas to encourage them.

Karakia (Pray)

A Creation Care Study Bible Reading from Job 12:1-10

1 Then Job answered: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these? 4 I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock. 5 Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable. 6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their God in their hands. 7 But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 8 ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 9 Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? 10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.”

A reflection of Job berating Zophar & his friends by Jacynthia Murphy.

The laughter is deafening when inquiries about your responsibility of care for ME (Mother Earth) are made. I feel distant from you when you sparingly mention ME as a part of your past, present, and future, when I have been yours since time began. We are growing apart. Your compassion for ME during my increased illness is somewhat absent, which upsets my whole whānau. Just ask them and they will tell you!

You never ask ME if I am happy in this relationship, and you have never told ME that I matter. Some say that it is only ME that is struggling with this, and rumor has it that you have fallen for many ‘things’ that please you more. Others just laugh at me!

Despite my equal aptitude and astute understanding of things, there is contempt toward ME because God approves. Even those who respect ME more are subject to your ignorance!

We have discerned that your appetite for “highs” is not in ME. This quest for something that flows not from my fountain of aroha leaves ME filled with grief and pain. How can I possibly compete? Although I give to you all that is given to ME by God, your heart has never been mine alone.

It would be a comfort, though, if you turned to God and asked what was intended for ME in our relationship. The chasm in our shared designations widen daily. The encroaching estrangement leaves ME gasping for the breath that we were all to share.

Submitting my whole being to God, in search of what it will take for ME to go on, has rendered me and my whānau with the conclusion that you love ME no more. My family prays in the hope that you will seek God’s counsel in how to reconcile, restore, and renew your relationship with ME. Teachings, declarations, and stories of ME are free to upload, and if your connection is too weak, please feel free to contact ME at anytime, anywhere. Amen.

Subscriber Contribution

Today’s photos are from Jo Burgess. Jo’s enthusiasm for every Counting Down to Christmas is infectious. She loves to hang out in the comments section and would really enjoy comment conversations with fellow subscribers. To access the comments section you can login to the website and read, like and add your own comments.

Jo contributes a photo from the window of Smith & Caughey’s last Christmas window showcasing ‘The Adventures of Hutu & Kawa’ written by Avis Acres and first published in 1955.