And Jesus said, “Who is my family?” The definition of family can take many avenues. There is great pain, and tribulation when one tries to secure the connections that were cut at the very moment of birth. From the moment the cord is severed at birth we strive to draw circles around ourselves and call it, “family.” The natural bonds can be dissolved in a moment, as the illusion dissolves before our very eyes.
People come into our lives, and we keep them at a distance because they aren’t, “Family.” People who were family leave us, divorce us, disown us, and suddenly, we’re no longer, “Family.” People whom we barely knew die, and one night, in deep contemplation we discover that they were, “Family,” only no one ever told us. The loss is just as real.
My granddaughter, Puck, is nowhere near related to me. Her mother, and father do not have one strand of DNA in common with me, and yet, Puck is, “Family.” My Ex’s deceased husband, Joe, became family, but I never knew it until his ghost came to me after his death, and I began to realize that he considered me, and all my grandchildren, “Family.”
The problem comes when we conceive family, but it’s simply not there. Remember, that cord is cut at birth. Family comes from common bonds, common purpose, and common needs. Family is my friend, Somer, running down to the house to help with the kids after she had hernia surgery. Family is Sonny, cleaning up the blood after Joe hit the floor. Family is New Baby waking me up every morning for and egg sandwich.
The birth family is just what we start with. The only reason that unit stays together
as long as it does is that we don’t have the physical, or economic ability to run away after we realize we drew for a busted straight. The Mormons believe that we all exist in heaven and choose our family. The Mormons are smoking rope. Either that or God is not as efficient asE-harmony.com! The reason most families stay together is they are stuck together. They stay together because they are either too stupid to leave, or too scared, or lazy.
What will happen is that one day you will look up and notice that certain people are always around. You look for blood, and it’s not there, but if you dig just a little deeper you’ll find that bond; the one you can’t see, and that’s, “Family!” The family you are born into makes you what you are. The combination of genes and DNA build up the physical body. The family you find during life makes you what you will be. If you hold on to the birth people who reject you then you become disillusioned. If you let go and qualify people for the role of family you will grow. Be appreciative of “noble ancestors,” but embrace the spiritual family you form as life progresses.
That family will sustain you. That family will nurish you. That family will have a common bond with you. Ever been to a “family” reunion and suddenly find that you have nothing to talk about, and yet, upon returning home, discover that you are sorry the bar is closing because you have been talking with friends for hours. Well, you just found, “Family!” A few days ago I sat on the steps of the Capitol in Austin. C. J. Grisham gave his speech announcing the first day of open carry for Texas. As I looked at the crowd I suddenly saw, “FAMILY!”
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