Family Bonds

Today I would like to talk about family bonds.

Family is so important to the stability of ones life. Family is important to ones community. Lets look at why.

First, lets look at what is a family. Well, it can be just a husband and wife. It can be mom and children, or dad and children, or in the best case it would be mom, dad, and the children. Now their are all different make up of families. For example, I had my Mom, my step-father and my brother and my step-father's 5 children my step siblings, AND I had my Dad, step-mother and my half brothers and sister, AND I had my step-father that raised me and my step-mother and my step sister. Not to mention all the foster brothers and sisters my mom and step-father had. So I was lucky enough to have a huge family. I have friends that their family was their grandparents. I had a friend in the Air Force who had his aunt and uncle as his parents. There are some kids out there that their family is the orphanage and the other kids. So as you can see family can be defined in so many ways.

What ever your family dynamic is please know you all are important to each other. Without a positive family it is hard to get ahead in life. I was so lucky I had the kind of parents I had. They encouraged me to reach for the stars and beyond. They have always been there in any situation with a kind word or advice. With a firm and huge hug or a funny story to keep me going. My brother Loni has encouraged me when I was going through my painful divorce or at other times. My foster sister Dee was the first one to me when my ex and I made the decision to divorce. Dee just held me tight as I sobbed. My brother Max always has a joke or something to make me smile. My sister Kit never let a time go by when she says "I love you big brother" I can go on and on. I am so grateful to my family. Did we fight, yes. Did we say harsh words, I am so guilty of that. But our love for each other would prevail and we would forgive each other. I feel at 47 we are closer now then ever before.

Men, especially men that are my age or older please tell your children you love them. Please show them you love them. I made the huge mistake to not tell my older children Stephen and Nicole. I always assumed that they knew. I have since corrected that and make sure I let them know all the time. My son Michal probably gets tired of me telling him all the time. But I seen the error in my ways raising my first two. My son Stephen and I had a wonderful talk one day. He said " Dad, please don't make the same mistakes with Michal." Those words have stuck deep within me. I try my best to be better. Sometimes I feel I fail but I just dust myself off and try again. Now I have 3 wonderful grandchildren and I am trying hard not to make any mistakes when it comes to them. I want to start a new campaign starting today. I will let them know I love them in one way or another. Maybe a phone call one day, maybe a letter another. Maybe a text message to their parents to give to them. What ever, I just need to let them know more than I have been.

A relationship is always revolving and growing. We should tend it like a garden. Weed out those things that need to be weeded out, nurture it in ways that will help it grow. If you were to leave a garden unattended then you will see weeds everywhere, your garden will die. So to with your family relationship. If there are weeds growing in your family relationship, tend to it fast. It dose not matter how old the scar reach out and say I love you, I am here. Sometimes the words I am sorry is what someone feels they need to hear. Even if you feel they should be the one to say it. Please say it. I am sorry are three powerful words and heal so much if said.

Husbands and wives start one night a week and have date night. Date night dose not have to be a dinner and a movie. What about a walk somewhere and talk. What about just holding hands or looking at the stars. Do something together away from the stresses of life.

Moms and Dads start doing some type of family night. Pick one day a week and turn off the TV and do something together as a family. Play games, sing songs. Have a family meeting, or like I said on my last post, do a service project for some one. For those of us who are religious why not read the scriptures together. Just get together and be a family.

Remember, we never know how long our family members will be with us. Do not be the one who has regret because you did not let that person know you loved them. Start today let your family know they are important to you. Let them know they are loved. If they are far away let them know they are missed.

It is my sincerest prayer that we all can build stronger family bonds. It is my wish that families can and will be positive influences to each other. It is my prayer that those that are shattered can be mended.