Siblings who step up
It’s the season of family, the time when many extended family members come together around Thanksgiving, Christmas, or both. We hosted our family on Thanksgiving this year and had a house full of uncles, aunts, cousins, parents and grandparents, spouses, friends, and loved ones. Multiple generations were represented, which caused me to think about the legacy of the patriarchs and matriarchs of our clan.
Our parents (the eldest living generation in our family) have demonstrated what it means to be a family. They are not perfect, and we have, at times, learned what not to do, but the vast majority of their past experiences have been valuable examples of how to love one another. These senior adults have consistently been there for one another. When one experiences a difficulty, the other siblings step up to support and love. This looks like staying with their sibling in the hospital when needed, offering emotional support, consistent phone calls to check on each other, and offering unconditional, non-judgmental (most of the time) care for each other. Most importantly, it means always being there for one another.
This is a valuable lesson for us as we think about our legacy. What are we demonstrating to those watching how we live our lives? What kind of message are we sending to the generations coming behind us? The willingness to be present for others going through tough times is becoming less and less prevalent in our society. Love is an action that takes determination and work to build healthy, long-lasting relationships. Just ask Linda, Bobby, Brenda, or Judy. They have been loving each other for over 80 years.
When we choose to step up and be there for others, we will make a difference.
Larry
Check out our latest episode on the Crossing the Line Podcast:
with Steve Riat
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