Family can mean so many things. There is a family of birth, a family by marriage, my own immediate family of husband and five kids, and then a family of choice.
Today, my sister and her husband and daughter and son in law came to visit. They are the first official "family" we've seen over the holidays. But we've seen others, too. I saw my Al family two nights ago. I saw my friend Michelle on Christmas Eve and on Wednesday night. Delia our nanny, whose only been with us since September, has been here two days. She's also family.
Today I got to go visit my old colleague Donna in the hospital, she is dying of cancer. I've known her since we moved here 13 years ago. She's also family to me, again though we haven't seen each other much since I went on mat leaves and she's been off sick. But we share friends and work history and memories. I am glad I went to see her today, I could have avoided the entire thing but I think our visit brought something special to each of us. What an amazing gift.
What can I do today to grown more intimate relationships/friendships and memories? I can be present, be loving and supportive, cry when it needs to happen and laugh until the tears come. I can hope and be scared and laugh and cry and laugh again, and love. I can love. I can let love be my motivation. Not ego or time or money. I can let life happen and make everyone I meet part of my family of choice. I can cry when friends are dying, walking near the pearly gates. I can cry when my nanny's mother dies and she's so scared and feels guilt for not being there. I can offer unconditional love and acceptance in the form of support and understanding.
Thank you for today, Lord. Thank you.
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