“Family is like music, some high notes, some low notes, but always a beautiful song.” – Unknown
As long as I can remember, this time of year has always been a special season for me. Not because of the gifts or things being given to me, but because of the people around me. Not just any people either, but the ones I call family, whether related through blood or a common bond that has forged our relationship over the years I have known them.
And as each year passes by, I find myself knowing new people. People with vast backgrounds and experiences. People with relatable experiences and challenges that I have learned from, and people that somehow found their way into my life usually through divine appointment, at least that’s how I see it.
However they have found their way into my circle of family and friends, whether for a long or short period, I am grateful. I am grateful simply because life is hard, and sometimes it’s harder than what I expected it to be. In these moments, it is those people that unknowingly share unconditional love, earnest support and words that defy time, including my present state of mind.
Perhaps I consider this now (and each year) because it’s close to the end of another year, therefore I reflect on what my life was and what I want it to look like in the coming year. Like you, I had moments of triumph, great sadness, disappointment and victory. And through it all, I realize that every failure had a purpose. Every disappointment meant more than what I understood at the time, and every victory was a reminder that life can always have a sweet spot, just depends on the perspectives I choose to carry.
Today, I suggest that we take some time to reflect on our lives. Think of people we call family and how they have impacted our lives. How would our lives look without them? Were they there just for a season? Did we or do we recognize that? Or do we find ourselves still holding on to a relationship that existed in the past, figuratively and literally?
Who is your family? Who are those people that you share a common bond with and continue to forge strong bonds with today? Those bonds tend to mean a lot more when life is not going as planned, so let us not forget to be thankful for them, and when we find ourselves being down, let’s remember that we are never alone. Even our memories of precious times are worthy of reflection, because they carry weight that can strengthen our hearts and minds, and more importantly they remind us that love, our happy times and joy are real and relevant, even when it feels as if those times only exist in our past.
Keep Pressing,
Hank G