Family (tiwahe)

Families have always formed the foundation of any strong community.  They are the backbone of our society.  Our families shape our lives in ways few other things can.  The bonds formed between parents and children, brothers and sisters, and our spouses are some of the strongest if not the strongest connections we will ever make as human beings and this is something that spans across racial and cultural divides.  

I recently sat on a panel discussing community and how to develop a sense of belonging, and a question was asked of the panelists to share a time in which they personally felt a sense of belonging.  It was difficult for me to point to one time in particular. I feel included as though I belong almost everywhere I find myself (I probably get this from my dad).  However, I shared with the group that I feel as human beings inclusion and a sense of belonging is a feeling that we get from the very moment we are brought into this world.  One of the first experiences we have as human beings after being brought into the world is being placed in our mother’s arms.  That experience is a shared collective experience and part of what it means to be human; to feel a place of safety and belonging, to feel connected to another and rely on another for your existence in an equally beautiful and harsh place that we call earth.  Family is the setting in which we first learn how to walk through life with dignity and humility.  Learning how to rely on others, how to share, how to have fun and play, and how to grieve loss and mourn, how to speak, and how to listen.  These are not things we learn in a classroom but from time and experiences surrounded by those we love and those who love us.

I spent the last few weeks surrounded by family and I was reminded once more of how grateful I am for their presence in my life.  This Christmas I listened as my brother spoke wisdom to our family reminding us that what truly matters is not our presents but our presence; our presence with one another and the presence of God within our hearts and lives.  I’m thankful to know that there is always a place I can go to find love and acceptance.  A place where I know I’ll find laughter and fun, as well as conflict and tears.  That place is not always peaceful, not nearly perfect, but it serves a most important purpose in our lives.  That place is called home and at its heart is family.