Family

I come from a very large family. Mama and Daddy had seven children, 4 girls and 3 boys. There are 16 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. Mama and Daddy have been in heaven for several years now and we still seem to be a very close family still. I see other families that just aren't as close as they should be and wonder why we are so different. And we really are, people who marry into our family are always amazed at how different we are. Their words, not mine.

We grew up fairly poor. We always had the things we needed, but not much else. As the older kids got married and moved out it made it easier on us younger kids. But I know when I was left at home by myself for 4 years with only mama & daddy, I would have rather had my brothers & sisters home than more things. I really missed them. I now live far away from them all and still miss them.

We learned from our parents to pull together when things got hard.
To be happy with what we had.
To be there for each other.
To love one another.
To accept each other as we are.
To stick up for each other.
To love ourselves.
To accept our in-laws and love them as if they are our brothers and sisters.
To love our children and each other's children.

We don't have birthday parties and don't buy gifts for each other very often. But we still play together. Every 4th of July we all get together and we play. We usually have a theme and plan games around that theme. This past year it was the wild west. We dressed up like cowboys and Indians. We played poker, had a shoot out at the OK corral, and plenty of other games.

When we lost our parents we were there for each other. We still are.

I really don't understand how families fall apart when the hard times come. But they do. Even families that profess to be Christians, can't seem to pull together and depend on Him to see them through.

Maybe some day, I'll understand but I truly hope not.

Mae

Matthew 5:24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.