Today’s prompt from The Sway is probably the easiest and hardest for me to answer.
WRITE A POST INSPIRED BY THIS WORD: FAMILY
Wow! Family can mean a lot of different things to different people. When I think of the word “family” I think of comfort and safety and acceptance and love. Family doesn’t have to be something you’re born into. It can be people who accept you when your family isn’t there for you.
When I was 13 years old, my father passed away. It was a devastating time for my family. He was the leader. We all looked up to him, needed him. But when he wasn’t there anymore, we were all lost. So each of us ran away from our family and found comfort in new families. I ran to my church family. I had many moms and dads that were my friends’ moms and dads. They listened to me, comforted me, taught me, and took care of me. It was a wonderful feeling during a terrible and tragic time in my life.
My daughters, who we adopted when they were one and two years old, had a family in the orphanage until we brought them home to their forever family. The caretakers in the orphanage loved them, took care of them, and cried when they left to join their new family.
I believe the word family can have many meanings. Because I had many families while I was growing up, I love when my kids’ friends feel comfortable walking into our house, going to the fridge and helping themselves to a snack. I love when they feel comfortable enough to just walk in the front door without ringing the doorbell. I want them to feel like ours is their second home and family. I try to listen to them when they need to talk, comfort them when they’re hurting, be a friend when they are lonely. I want to be what my moms and dads were to me many years ago.
Family can be the people you were born into, people who take you into their home and love you, or they can be there for you for a specific time in your life when you needed someone. God is wonderful at putting people in our lives at the exact time we need them most.
How do you define “family”? Do you live with grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, parents, stepparents, friends? Whatever your situation I pray you feel loved, accepted, comforted, special.
If I’m really good, I’ll post later today about our Chinese New Year menu…..HAPPY FAMILY. How appropriate is that??!!
Tomorrow’s prompt is “Share your top ten romantic movies.” That will be fun!
Happy Chinese New Year
Gung Hay Fat Choy!
Love y’all,
Linda
