WHAT IS FAMILY?

What is family to you?

What is family to me?

It’s all about perspective really isn’t it?

To some, the word family brings to mind images of a husband,wife and kids enjoying each others company around the dinner table, or playing sports together. Maybe even doting grandparents babysitting the children or coming over for family get-togethers.  Maybe even all the related family living in the same town and all getting along and supporting each other in all they choose to do in life. And that’s great!

However, today, I humbly suggest to you that Family is so much more than blood and rightfully so.

It’s not that family that is blood-related is bad. It’s just that that is not a reality for many people. Also the fact that as we go through many differing stages of our life, what family looks like will evolve. That’s something that I believe we need to embrace as a culture instead of putting “family” in a box.

Let me explain.

What is family?  Is it blood? hmmm….I’ve known too many people that have been damaged by their “blood” family so I choose to think no. Blood family definitely CAN be family, but that’s not always the case.

I’ve also known too many people with amazing adopted family trees that are so beautiful and real that family only being blood would be insulting to that very real, raw, and true picture of family!

So, what is family then?

They are the ones you can bare your true self to and they don’t judge, dictate, or label you.

The ones who truly see YOU in a way that may be unnerving until you realize its beautiful. 

They are the ones who are so used to seeing the real you that when (not if, because we are all human) you screw up, they are super quick to forgive because they know it’s not typical and they know your heart.

Family are the ones who love you no matter how you grow and change because they want you to always be bettering yourself because they truly want you to grow and be your best.

They are the ones that when life gets real….and I mean painfully raw and real, they are the first ones to step up. This doesn’t mean they will know what to say or do but they will be right by your side unwavering.

The ones that no matter day or night, or how trivial it may seem, when you overcome a life obstacle or hurdle, you can call them and they really want to hear about it!

Those who will actually rejoice with you over your joys.

Family are the ones who take the time to actually sit down, look you in the eyes and listen to you.

The ones you can’t wait to talk to at the end of the day or the ones you long to see again every time you leave.

Those that if you knew you could never talk to them again, your soul would cry out in angst.

The ones who always want you to succeed, will challenge you out of love, will push you further than you believed you could go.

They will accept you fully for who you are, and still love you as much when you are evolving, and be patient with you in the process.

Family is a strong word that conveys a bond nearly indescribable except to say that it is not be easily broken and stands the test of time and is willing to grow and change in order for the strands to stay strong.

When I think back over my own life family has looked like many different things over periods of time.

Just some of the examples that come to mind include:

Myself living alone with my pet and my pet being “my person” to come home to and share life with and that was what mattered to me and what I had a responsibility to take care of and to comfort me when I needed it.

It has also looked like living completely alone in my car. It was just me and God and I was my own family. I had myself to take care of and provide for myself and my future.

Are you starting to follow me a bit here? Hang with me.

There were also times when I was living alone and the bond with my coworkers was so strong, they were like family to me as well and they were the ones I could call in a pinch when and if I needed something.

Later when my husband and I got married, and we didn’t have children yet, we had each other and we were our family. Our church families during those times were an integral part of our lives and we are so thankful for those bonds and those times as well. They were our people and our ones we could count on.

Then, when my mom became paralyzed and I quit my job so we could move in with them and I could be her full-time caregiver, it was her friends and her church family that came to support in the midst of overwhelming grief, confusion, trauma, and desperation that quickly became my family, my footing, and absolute rocks.

Right now, our family looks like my husband and I living in an apartment in one of the largest cities in the United States with our 2 children that we get to hold this side of heaven. We have an extended community of locals we consider family. We are truly in awe at them for their level of humanity, kindness, transparency, and graciousness that has been such a blessing to us in the just over 2 1/2 years we have lived here thus far.

It may be time to take your perspective glasses out of their case, dust off the lenses, look at your “family” in a whole new light and see what family is to you right now.

Wherever you are in life, whatever your station may be…single living alone, with a roommate, with a pet, in a relationship, coworkers you can count on and trust, a college athletic team that has your back, amazing friends that you trust with your everything, caregiving for your loved one, a spouse, a spouse and kids….you are your own family and THAT IS ENOUGH!!

It is simply not true that you have to be married to be considered family…or married with children. Stop letting the world tell you what it thinks! Stand in the truth that we are all a part of a bigger family (God’s kingdom)! Whatever your station in life is and whatever your family looks like right now, we are thankful you are here. We welcome you to be a part of The 365 Family.  365 days of the year, you are your family and that is enough. 

Please accept this FREE custom printable set as a gift we made especially for you and print it out, hang it in your home and remind yourself daily of the beauty of family.

Comment below with, what your family looks like right now stand in the freedom that you are enough!

Blessings,

Susan