What Really Counts?

I have 2 brothers and 6 sisters.  Then 8 of us are married so that makes for 7 in laws and my great husband.  Then you throw into the mix 25 grandchildren all under the age of thirteen.  When you think about this large group of people you might wonder how often they can handle being together.  In fact, I will often talk to others about family and they will comment that their children don't know their cousins or they only see their family once a year.  The amazing thing about my family is that we love being together.  We are together on different Sunday's and then several days of the week.  The cousins are some of my children's best friends.  They know all of their aunts and uncles.  They see their grandparents several times a week.  When you ask my children about some of their favorite memories or traditions most of them are tied to family.  When my children are upset with dad and mom we will ask who they would turn to and it is their grandparents or aunts and uncles.  

This might sound like the ideal world, but trust me, there are challenges along the way.  We all parent differently.  We are all different personalities.  There are times that we disagree or have our feelings hurt.  Sometimes some of the children will make choices that we don't all agree with.  Other times there are toes that are stepped on along the way whether it is intentional or unintentional.  The reality is that nobody is perfect.  

That is the bottom line.  No one is perfect and it is important that we recognize and accept that.  Wouldn't we want people to look at the good things we did instead of the dumb choices we make?  Wouldn't you want to live with hope and look for the good things in others instead of worrying about when the next person is going to make a mistake?  Maybe you feel like someone in your family is using you too much.  Isn't that alright?  Isn't that what families are for?  Wouldn't you want them to be there for you if you needed them?  In reality, if you look at it more than likely there is someone that you are probably relying on more than others.  You just need them and they do it because they are a true friend and love you.  

When it comes right down to it everyone has their positive traits.  It goes back to the saying I heard so many times as a teenager, "God doesn't make no junk."  He didn't and he wouldn't want you to think that of anyone else and you wouldn't want people to think that of you.  I could sit here and list things that I love about every single person in my family.  Of course, there are those things that might drive me a little crazy or even hurt my feelings once in awhile, but I love them the same.  I just want to enjoy the good in every way that I can.  Deal with the challenges as they come and pray that they blow over quickly.  They are my family and I couldn't imagine life without any one of them - parents, siblings, in laws, nieces or nephews.

Try it - sit down and write something good about every person in your family.  You will be amazed at how it makes you feel and give you a little something to reach for.  


Here's a quote to think about:  Here are 4 things I know you can't recover: The stone...after the throw. The word...after it's said. The occasion...after it's missed. The time....after it's gone.  Don't let time pass by without making great memories!