Family – by Brad Rhame
When you hear the word “Family” what images or thoughts are brought to mind?
Everyone has experienced “Family” in different ways. Some of us have come from big traditional families and others of us have come from small non-traditional families. We may be related by blood, contract or love. Each of us have a different idea of what a family is. Even brothers and sisters, who have grown up in the same family, can have differing opinions of what a family constitutes.
No matter what someone else thinks a family is, you know what it is to you. The point I want to drive home is that when you make up your mind of what a family looks like, then spend the rest of your life designing your family to the best of your abilities. Put everything you have into it.
Will there be times when that perfect picture cracks, splits, or even brakes? Yes. That does not mean it is over. Anything in life that could be beautiful is worth going after. Worth building…Worth rebuilding. I would really like to tell you to just put more love into it, but we all know what that means…. Absolutely different things to everyone. Love…more than a feeling…is really an action.
I can attest to that and I am sure many of you can too. There are times, days, weeks and even months where we do not “feel” love. Love is an action and every time we decide to do something for someone, because it is the right thing, then we are putting love into action. By showing or doing love, we are that much closer do designing the family we want.
You can’t lose weight by sitting in a chair and eating your favorite foods in large consumptions. You can’t have your dream job, if you don’t put in an application and develop the skills needed. You can’t write your first book, by watching videos, reading how-to-books, and buying blank journals, only to watch the blank journals pile up, beside the books and videos. Wishing and dreaming are fun, but they don’t get anything accomplished without action.
Family falls into that same thought process. We have to continually work…and I mean WORK…at what we want to come from our family. Life will throw you lemons, curve balls, and straight crap, but we have to know it is coming and react to it with a prepared mind. Easier said than done? Absolutely! Life is not about “Easy”. Life is about “Learning”. Learn from your mistakes. Learn from others’ mistakes. Learn from your successes, as well as, others’ too. Then, pass those same thoughts, morals, and traditions onto those you love…your family. And watch how they respond and possibly even change it as they grow.
Whatever you do, just don’t forget to be there for your family. When everyone else is gone and the toys have lost their appeal, just remember that your family is there waiting for you.
Love to Live and Learn to Laugh….and in the middle you have Live and Learn
Brad Rhame
Brad Rhame 