Family Is So Important

This is the family of my niece, Leanne.God has really blessed Leanne more than most people who have lived on this earth.  First and foremost, Leanne's heart is pure love. It might not be obvious when her favorite football team (Roll Tide!!!) is losing, but this is only to confirm that she s perfectly human.
Brian, her husband is among the very rare finest of men. Each conversation I have ever had with him has been an encounter with a deeply sensitive, empathic and mighty down to earth spiritual presence. He is the type of person who learns not just lessons, but gains wisdom from each experience he has lived
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Leanne is an architect and Brian is a building contractor.  They have two sons - David and Jonathan. David must be ten now. He is a well behaved very active and bright boy who is very loving like his mother and sensitive like his father. Jonathan is nearing one with the patience of a Zen master. Both sons closely resemble Brian, but also Leanne. This makes for the presentation of a closely bonded family.

Grandmother Pat came to take care of Jonathan so Leanne could return to work. I am so filled with happiness that Leanne's mother is welcome in her house. I am sure, as it is with all mothers and daughters that there is some tension there. I am also sure that their very strong and common faith has paved that way for them to be able to coexist as a dance of life.

There are other extended members of this family, including my brother Dick, who is incredibly understanding of Pat's decision to assist this beautiful family at this time. David and Jonathan's cousins are close and spend quality time together, all being close enough in age to play freely together. Leanne and her two brothers and all the family spends holidays together, a not so common event in family life these days.

They live by the ocean and spend time there creating memories that will last forever. They live by their faith in God's goodness and unconditional love. While they have been through several trials already, this may have shaken their foundations, but their foundation is stronger because of what is trivial compared to their belief that there is a positive purpose in every life event.

That's me in the picture, too. It is not a common experience for me to feel so welcome into a family as they have done. I have been truly blessed by their honoring me as Great Aunt Judi. This role was revered in my own parents' families. Never did I ever imagine this would be bestowed on me.

I know, in my own Heart, that I am loved. To have this family who welcomes me into their Heart, supports that I am loved.

What does this require of  me? Only that I believe and embrace this gift I have been given.

But, alas, there is always a call, a cry, a beckoning wrapped in every gift.

I am also a mother and grandmother and aunt. My family is as welcome in my home and Heart as am I in my niece's home and Heart. I can only maintain the belief that they welcome a relationship with me will be as valuable to them as is my relationship with my niece and her family.

Family relationships are difficult in today's world. People are spread across country and continent. Time has changed everything. Roles and relationships have been challenged and new ways to be community in all its forms  is being re-created.

Slowly, this hyper-isolated condition we have all experienced in our life's time is expanding to include some lost and now found basic family patterns. Rare, but real.

I look forward to being among those who pioneer these new patterns. Are you? 


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