Life Is Families!

TheDiscipleMD

Everyday my wife visits assisted living homes for the elderly in her duties as a home-health nurse. On occasion, I will serve as her chauffeur and drive her around to the different facilities. The other day as we were driving home from her daily rounds, she made this simple but profound observation.  She noted that in front of every residents room there is a place for them to hang pictures or put items of a personal nature.  She noted that outside of every room are displayed pictures of their families, be it photos of their spouses, kids, or grandchildren.  Of note, she told me, was that never were there any trophies, diplomas, or other worldly acknowledgment of great accomplishment the person had achieved in their long life. No, all of them had photos of their families. Then she said, “Really, life is families.” While her statement was very simple and obvious, sometimes we need to be reminded of the divine nature of the unit we call ‘the family.’

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…” (Genesis 1:27-28)

Russel M. Ballard had this to say upon visiting the devastated and displaced victims of hurricane Katrina:

“Their stories and situations are tragic and poignant in many ways, but in all that I heard, what touched me the most was the crying out for family: “Where is my mother?” “I can’t find my son.” “I’ve lost a sister.” These were hungry, frightened people who had lost everything and needed food, medical attention, and help of all kinds, but what they wanted and needed most was their families.

Crisis or transition of any kind reminds us of what matters most. In the routine of life, we often take our families…for granted. But in times of danger and need and change, there is no question that what we care about most is our families! It will be even more so when we leave this life and enter into the spirit world. Surely the first people we will seek to find there will be father, mother, spouse, children, and siblings.” (“What Matters Most Is What Last Longest”, GC. Oct 2005)

Ballard concluded by saying:

“It is important to remember that all larger units of society depend on the smallest and most fundamental unit, the family. No matter who or what we are, we help ourselves when we help families.”

We need just to breath to understand that “life is families.” As we travel down the beggars trail of life, let us remember that the wonderful nature of families is divine and comes as a god-given gift to all travelers who have mercifully been given life in this sometimes lone and dreary world. May we do everything within our power to protect it.

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