family, my greatest gift

My granddad (aka Papa) is very sick. He was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago and has been fighting it ever since. He is a fighter. I have never seen a man with such an incredible will to live however in the last couple weeks he has been struggling, the cancer has spread to other parts of his body and he is getting weaker and weaker. As a family we have tried our best to give him as much love, support and attention we can. I had family arrive from USA and my uncle arrive from CPT on Saturday morning and after a weekend of  much needed ‘family time’ I did some thinking on what Family means to me.

To me, my family is my greatest gift. Not a day goes by where I do not give thanks for being blessed with a family as beautiful as mine; a loving mother and father, my gorgeous sisters and my amazing husband. I believe our families hold the key to understanding and appreciating ourselves. Who can relate better to you than your own brother / sister who have shared so many experiences with you? Who can love you more selflessly than your own mother or father who sacrificed daily for so many years to raise you?

The better we understand our parents and siblings the better we understand ourselves. In your day-to-day interactions with your family you find out by your words and actions what kind of a person you are and what's most important to you. Having a family is like having a group of loyal supporters. You can always trust that they will give you their honest opinion no matter what and always accept and love you, flaws and all. It matters what you think and feel and nobody cares more about you than the members of your family - at least, that's how it should be. It starts with you. The better you are to your spouse, children, parents, siblings etc, the more they will want to be better to you.

I have a very strong knit immediate family. I believe it has allot to do with my parents who are still, after 27 years of marriage more in love that they have ever been. Leading by example, they have always showered my sisters and I with love, acceptance and understanding, they always had time for us and constantly given us the best that they could possibly give.

I believe family works when you can count on each other and lean on each other. If we waltz in on family when it's good for us and run out when it's bad for us then we're not doing our part and will not find fulfillment there or elsewhere. Family is not only for our pleasure or entertainment but for all aspects of life: for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do we part - we need a family and that family needs us. I can almost assure you that when you support your family you will find yourself supported. So make every effort you can with your family. Make time for them. Tell them you love them and appreciate them because life is too short to take anyone who means so much to you for granted.

My Papa

My mom & dad

Our large family at our wedding