Family Is What You Make It

We had a fantastic and enjoyable evening with our friend Kelly. After we took a refreshing dip in her swimming pool, she came along on our nightly visit to see Mrs. J.

Kelly has a real knack for entertaining and treating others with compassion and genuine concern. She listened earnestly as Mrs. J detailed how she broke her hip before intriguing us with a card trick.

The trick was supposed to reveal Mrs. J’s psychic ability to choose specific cards. I couldn’t figure out how Kelly did it, but it was fascinating to watch. So fascinating that my cousin, Melanie, had to come in to watch and try her own hand at choosing cards.

This is Melanie’s first night working there as a nurse and it’s been years since I’ve seen her. After introductions were made, I invited her to church, explaining that it was open and accepting to our kind. I’ve always felt a special type of kinship with her – empathy for her situation and sympathy for her pain.

We had a discussion this evening about family and how you really choose which people you want in that inner circle. Some of those that I consider my family members aren’t related to me genealogically, but our bond is much stronger and more significant than blood.

There are members of my bloodline that I have regular contact with and care about, but I don’t really consider a part of my family. Then there are those like Melanie, who I almost never see or talk to, but am proud to call a relative. I know that she understands me far better than most of my other kin and that she would never judge me for something I have no control over. That’s what I think family is all about.

A Family Is What You Make It
By Jim Rule

I used to believe that a family
Was a mom, and a dad, and 2.3 kids,
And a great big station wagon or a mini van
And a house and a dog and a cat.

But now that I’ve seen lots of families,
I know it’s not always like that,

Because a family is what you make it.
It’s you and your loved ones, whoever they are.
You’ve got to give and take it.
With understanding and love, your family’s gonna go far.
With understanding and love, your family’s gonna go far.