Family

Stella, Bill, Fannie
Photo Source: Tony Adkins

Someone told me recently that "family is ALL we have".

I agree AND disagree.

I love my family. It's full of interesting people and memories. Most of my positive memories of life involve times spent with them.

The heritage of my family is rich and gives me pleasure to research. Thanks to a few history/lineage/ancestry-minded cousins, I get to enjoy pictures like the one listed to the right.

However. My FAMILY consists of more than the bonds of blood and bone.  I have people in my life: friends, church, co-workers, and heroes that I consider to be part of MY personal family.

Family, to me, is a group of people who love you, keep you accountable, support you, correct you (in love), love to see you succeed, love to hear you speak, give you space to grow, and don't harm you intentionally.

So if there are any blood-relatives that fall into the verbally-abusive, bitter, toxic, chaotic, and destructive categories of life...I will not be investing much time in fostering a relationship.  I will try to be kind, love and forgive. But that doesn't mean I will let a TOXIC element into my life.

Family sometimes cross healthy boundaries. Abuse is then "ok", and we are supposed to take it and take it, and "love them anyway".

I LOVE MY FAMILY ENOUGH TO SAY NO.

To say, " You can't treat me this way. You cannot be a part of my life if you only seek to destroy and poison my life."

 I will give you time to heal, to learn, and find what you need to become healthy and non-toxic.

Bottom line: GOD is all I have, and everything He gives me to add to that is a blessing that I will PROTECT and hold dear as much as I am able.