A family with two little boys both diagnosed with autism. A family that lost their mother/wife to cancer. The bread winner and sole provider of the family who loses his job. What do all of these families have in common? Your initial thought may be something negative but, these are all descriptions of “happy families”. How you ask? I don’t have the answer. I’m not sure that there is a right or a wrong answer. But, one of my opinions is that sometimes tragedy brings a family closer together, to really appreciate what they truly have – and that is each other.
Whether you think your upbringing was “less than sunny” or you feel that is was close to ideal, how do you truly measure your family’s happiness now? The truth is, the most perfect appearing families are full of imperfections. We all have cranky babies, messy houses, and financial problems…at some point. But do we measure our happiness by these standards? I would hope not. There is a quote that I’m sure you’ve heard before, “Life isn’t about the breaths you take. Its about the moments that take your breath away.” Before I ever read that quote, that was my approach to measuring my family’s happiness. There are few things I want more in this lifetime, than to create unforgettable, meaningful moments and memories with my family.
Could I complain about my husband’s hours at work? Would I like for my house to be clean at least 50% of the time? Would I love to have a few more dollars in my checking account? The answer to all of these questions is YES, but, I wouldn’t trade my family life for anything in the world, and I’m pretty sure you feel the same way. No matter your circumstances, we should always be grateful for what we have.
There are times that I’m glad that we live miles and miles (and miles) away from our extended family. It forces my nuclear family and I to rely on one another. Of course, I miss out on the impromptu family gatherings, the annual Super Bowl parties, and “Soul Food Sundays” with our close family friends. Yet, I feel that my family is happy and content with what we have and the things that money just can’t buy. I could sit here and list all of things that I would change about my life. But for now, I’d rather give thanks for my life and everyone in it – including my imperfect family, which is actually perfect to me!
What are you thankful for today? Can you relate with our imperfectly perfect family?