The dictionary definition of family is: A group consisting of parents and children living together in a household. However, the synonyms of family are kin - house - household - stock - clan - race - tribe.
The definition of a tribe is: A social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.
The definition of a clan is: A group of close-knit and interrelated families.
I like different pieces of each definition. The definition of family is very narrow alone. My definition would look more like: a group of people with a common link who are close-knit and who have a special kind of love for each other.
The reason I am clarifying is because when I say that I spent time with my family today, I mean I spent time with a church family I hadn't met before, time with Matthew's parents and grandparents, time with my mom's side of the family, my great uncle's extended family, friends from Lebanon, KY, and my housemates. We are all related in different ways but I consider each and every one of them my family.
Why am I lucky to have the family I do?
My family makes a point to come together, fellowship together, ask each other about each other's lives, prepare food for everyone to share, and to love on each other. I watched my Grandma sit on the porch swing and have a conversation with her husband's sister's husband's mom because they are old friends. I watched my 2nd cousins bubble over with excitement when Matthew, my fiance, walked in the house. I watched so many different people from so many different sides of the family sit under the shade of the trees and talk for hours. There aren't many families who have that kind of connection.
My immediate family makes a point to sit down to have dinner every night. Whether we are yapping about our days, rushing to make it to a game, or arguing about who took who's shoes, we made a point to sit down every night and eat dinner. Granit, it didn't ALWAYS happen. The effort was there though. I have been in many households who don't do this, and there is an obvious difference in the dynamic of the house. Now that I am moved out, I have made up my mind that my husband and I will eat dinner together every night so that I can keep the tradition alive. There are many statistics that show it is healthy for your family, you should try it if you don't!
I could go on for a long time... But I think that will do for now! I am trying my hardest not to overdo my posts... I don't want to find them exhausting or feel like a chore.
2 more things:
-Lebanon is the most beautiful town in Kentucky.
-Lebanon is THE definition of a small town.
-I went to church with Matthew's family at Stewards Creek. I usually attend Muldraugh Hill when I am in Lebanon on Sundays. When I got to my cousin's house, 5 hours after leaving the church, my uncle greeted me with, "I heard you were at Stewards Creek this morning for church!" O Lord, how the news flies!
I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekends! Don't get too hot!
Love this post. Timmy and i vowed to each other that we would sit down together. Also we ask the blessing before each meal.
ReplyDeleteOur family is something special that most people wouldn't understand.