Family matters the most

Honestly, I am God's favorite child. He has chosen me to be a part of the best, most-loving family in all the universe. We don't all get the opportunity to be together much, so when we do it is so special. Even though we IM, chat and call each other on the phone, there's nothing that takes the place of being together.

I know too many families that can't get together without someone picking a fight, or family members that don't speak to each other for some silly misspoken word years ago. What is up with that? Don't they realize that family takes precedence over everything? If you have a family, you have roots and you have wings. Roots that keep you grounded, and wings that allow you to soar and know that if you fall your family will be there to catch you. What can possibly be more important than that?

My three brothers are all older than I; I was the baby--sometimes treasured, most times tortured, but always protected. They used to pick on me relentlessly, but God forbid if someone else tried it! Now, I could choose to remember the times they picked on me, but that is in the past. I don't have too many scars from those years! I choose to know and love them for who they are now, and for all the times they have been there for me. I can talk to any of them about anything, even religion and politics, and there's never any fighting, even when we disagree totally, which we do. We respect each other and love each other unconditionally--something we all definitely got from our loving mom.

My husband is an only child and I know he has a hard time understanding the bond that I have with my brothers. He's never had it, and I can see that it would be difficult to "get" if you never had it. He understands that when one of my brothers calls me that it's going to be awhile before I hang up the phone, and he's fine with it. He's another one of those people near and dear to me and I thank God for him every day.

My extended family is huge. I don't even know how many cousins I have because there are so many first, second and third cousins, and many of them live within an hour or so of my home. My daughter lives in the house we grew up in; the attic still carries the same scent it did all those years ago, and the same perennial flowers grow by the front door.

I can't imagine life without my mom and my brothers. They fill a huge part of my heart, and just knowing that I could pick up the phone and say "I need you" and they wouldn't even ask why--they'd be on their way. Just as I would for them. I find it impossible to find the words to describe the love I feel for them and my mom. It is almost overwhelming.

I pray that anyone who reads this will think about their family and their relationships to them. If they're holding a grudge against a family member, let it go! Call that person and say you're sorry, even if you are sure you're in the right. Tell them you love them. For that matter, if you haven't talked to someone in your family for awhile, call them or send a card. Make contact. Really, what do you have to lose? You can only gain from it. Family is way too important to walk away from. Work on those relationships that need repair.

God will bless you and your family richly.