It's Friday...and It's All About Family!!

Family....a small word that holds a host of meaning. Family is where we came from, who we have joined to in marriage, who we have brought forth. It's our past, it's in the present and will continue in the future for many generations.

We cannot choose the family we were born into. But, God in His infinite grace and wisdom, placed each of us exactly where we needed to be. While there is no 'perfect' family, many of our characteristics, qualities and habits come from the experiences - good and bad from our family life.

This week, I've thought a lot about family. The anniversary of my father's death was this week. I reflected on some ways his life and choices weren't always the best and many of them brought heartache and pain to our family. But in the midst of sorrow, the memory of his love and his words of wisdom ring in my heart clearly today. The love of family holds stronger than mistakes. Every year, my brother, no matter where he is calls me on that day. We remember and cherish the shared love of our dad.

A surprise phone call led to a family lunch with two of my favourite aunts. Both of them are in their 80s, and we don't see each other nearly enough. All through my childhood, these aunts have been a huge part of my life. We celebrated the joys of everyday life and when hard times came, they stayed right alongside us, offering their love and whatever was needed to get through the crisis. That is just what family does!

So as Friday is here, may it be all about family! May we seek to appreciate, love and serve one another. Love can cover up a world of differences, mistakes and bad feelings. Family is forever and the effort we make to build each other up, will last for many generations to come!

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