Thankful for Family

That’s a really odd subject! From the start, we need to admit it, we all have “different” family members. Sometimes they are evil, inept, odd, have bad habits, too “sweet”, obnoxious … well, with that out of the way, we can think about our family.

During the creation, on the sixth day, God created family. Think about the words of our Bible: “the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Man looked up, and saw all the things God gave him. First, there was the garden, then there were four beautiful streams. God provided gold, precious stones, aromatic smells within nature, stars in the sky by night, and the sun during the daytime. God gave man food and He gave man animals. But the Bible says there was no suitable companion. Man was lonely.

That is how families came into being. First there was Eve. Then God gave Adam and Eve children: Cain, Abel, Seth, and others. They had a large family, and probably enjoyed seeing their children playing. Families, as God made them provide for good support, communication, and entertainment.

Families can span multiple generations. I know that old people enjoy watching the youth in families. The older generation can also provide wisdom for every other person in the family, no matter what age. The middle generations provide support, and often do heavy lifting, caring for young children (or teenagers) and the elder generation. About the year 2000, I remember one man talking about his great-grandmother, born in 1803. He said, it is amazing, I remember sitting on her lap, and now that I am old, between the two of us, we have experienced two centuries.

Families have a past. Sometimes that is good, and sometimes that is bad. It all depends on what the past is. If it is one of harmony, we forget about that. If it is one where there were one or more ‘problem children,’ the offences are not easily forgotten. Lots of hardships exist in families, whether economic, health related, drug related, or criminal. Families cover for one another, and support one another, but members of the family get hurt, and have a long memory. That is sad.

Families often give care beyond the call of duty for one another. As I write this blog, I am caring for a relative who lives 2,000 miles from my home, for two months. It is inconvenient, but that is what families do. They provide for each other, either out of love or obligation, at times of need. The service saves money, and is more comforting than using a service, because we know each other, likes and dislikes.

We can be thankful for what our family has done for us. Sometimes we do not realize that. But ask the questions, who would have fed us, dressed us, cleaned up or poop … if God had not given us parents. Who would help us in our years of ill health or dementia, if it were not for children (or other relatives). Who would have helped us get our first car, our first house, or our first job … if it were not family. Families who are caring and supportive make a huge difference in life. Make sure this Thanksgiving … to give Thanks to those who have really helped (In the past year, or further back). Few people would make it in life without family support.

We can be thankful for families beyond our own: Friends, neighbors, work, for these people are present in our times of need also. Some people who do not have biological family find a strong network of friends is very helpful. They even call them family … and they are, because family includes people you identify with, talk with, assist, and who assist you.

We can be thankful, when family is near, because we can get together. Even when discussions are difficult and we wish we could impeach our sibling for their political beliefs, it is still good to be family. No matter what the discussion, remember the good things that obnoxious people in family have done (or those close to them), and give thanks to God for being part of a family. It takes all kinds to be a family, probably because we need the different skills God gives to each.

November is a month where thanksgiving is highlighted, and we are to give thanks for our family … whoever, and wherever they are. At least we have family, and for that we are thankful.

Avoiding the Christmas Crush

     November stands at the beginning of a very busy time of year. Now that the Election is over, people are thinking about Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season. Late Autumn and the first two weeks of winter are filled with many activities and special time with family. This season, which is usually just after the first freeze of the year is the time to pull out your calendar in order to make plans for everything that needs to be done.

     In only a few weeks we will celebrate Thanksgiving, with its accompanying family meal, football games, parades and black friday sales. All these take preparation. There are people to invite to our home (or travel plans if we are going somewhere else) for a feast of turkey and all the fixings. Shopping lists need to be created for the festive dinner, football snacks and black Friday sales.
     Thanksgiving, with its black Friday events leads us into the busy month of December. This is a month of parties, church activities, community events, year end closeouts, and preparation for Christmas. Preparation of the calendar alone, with it’s multiple conflicts can be a nightmare. It is best to do this month ahead (in November), in order to avoid as many problems as possible. For those traveling, this is especially important to catch the sales and deadlines before price increases.
     Strategic planning at the beginning of November can help a lot during the busy month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A bit of pre-holiday organization of time can prevent conflicts and their associated headaches. A thoroughly drafted agenda will make sure nothing slips through the cracks during the busy weeks between the turkey dinner and the Christmas gift unwrapping event.
     If the schedule is unplanned, some necessary details of the holidays will be omitted. What can this be? The central item of the season which has not yet been suggested: the taking in and the sharing with others the all important matters of faith that are central to Thanksgiving and Christmas.
     Consider, how will you weave the central objective of gratitude into your Thanksgiving? How will you ingrain faith sharing into the advent season. In what way will you celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas morning? Don’t let the mundane and less important “necessities” crowd out the real reason for the season.
     I discovered many years ago the necessity of taking part of a day to weave a faith agenda into my December calendar. Without planning, the legacy of my family’s Christmas memories would only be the gifts they received. But I did not allow that to happen … and I hope you will not permit a secular Christmas to occur in your home either.

     Do you need help with your holiday plans? Take a look at my web-page www.KosherCopy.com. On top of the page you will see a tab that says Advent. There are two items on the drop down menu: Advent Calendar and Advent Activities. Click on Advent Activities to discover multiple ideas (which will work for families with children of any age). The PDF document (free) will help you create a Christmas that brings home the real reason for the season and celebrates the coming of the Savior, Jesus.

     Please also take note of the book Advent Journeys, which appears just to the left of this blog. The contents of this book will transport you to first century Bethlehem as it recreates the events of the first Christmas. This is not a book filled with homespun homilies, but short daily readings to help you join Mary and Joseph for the first Christmas, the best Christmas ever, because it is the foundation stone and beginning of all Christmases that have or ever will occur.