這件事發生在1863年，埃德溫．布斯（Edwin Booth）站在澤西市的火車月台上，看見一個年輕人被群眾推擠到車廂邊，掉進了火車與月台間的縫隙。火車開始緩緩前進，在千鈞一髮之際，埃德溫伸手把那人安全地拉上來。

被救上來的年輕人羅伯特．林肯（Robert Todd Lincoln）是美國林肯總統的兒子。羅伯特後來寫道，他當然認得那位救他一命的人，因為埃德溫是一位相當有名的演員。事實上，埃德溫的弟弟約翰．布斯（John Wilkes Booth）也是一位演員，而約翰卻在兩年後暗殺了林肯總統。

這件歷史奇案為我們說明了一個事實。我們無法選擇在怎樣的家庭出生，或許我們的手足或父母會犯錯，會做出錯誤抉擇，又或許我們是家裡最會惹麻煩的人。但聖經說，我們可以選擇成為上帝家中的一員，保羅清楚告訴我們：「凡被上帝的靈引導的，都是上帝的兒子」（羅馬書8章14節）。我們可以成為上帝的兒女，成為祂的「後嗣」（17節）。我們竟然能稱上帝為「阿爸！父！」（15節）這是多麼奇妙啊！

或許我們長久以來都在破裂冷酷的原生家庭中苦苦掙扎，但我們無需沮喪灰心，因為上帝已經改變我們屬靈的身分，祂接納我們進入祂的家中，而最寶貴的是祂邀請我們稱祂為阿爸天父。

It was 1863. Edwin stood on a railroad platform in Jersey City. He watched as a young man was forced by crowds against a train car. The man dangerously fell into the crevice between the train and the platform. The train started to move. Edwin reached down and, at the last minute, pulled the man to safety.

The saved man was Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln. Robert later wrote that his rescuer’s “face was of course well known to me,” because Edwin Booth was a famous actor. In fact, he was the brother of another actor—John Wilkes Booth—who would assassinate the president two years later.

This historical oddity illustrates a reality for us. We don’t choose the family we’re born into. Perhaps our siblings or parents made wrong choices. Maybe we’re the ones who’ve made a mess of everything. But the Bible tells of God’s family plan: “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Romans 8:14). As His children, “we are [his] heirs” (v. 17). Amazingly, we’re invited to call Him “Abba, Father” (v. 15).

We may long wrestle with the dysfunctions of our earthly family. But we can take comfort that God has changed our spiritual heritage. He adopts us into His family. Most precious of all—He invites us to call Him our Father.