The Meaning of Family
It has been many years since we have experienced the true
meaning of family in the media. Years ago there were television
programs that offered however so gently, honest, home grown
values, beliefs and characters so true you felt like they were
family. What happen to the days of watching sincere people,
portray honorable characters and live humble lives? Is it old
fashion to still enjoy the Andy Griffith Show, the Waltons, and
the Cosby Show?
Deep inside most people there is a profound desire to hold on to
the safe security that accompanies knowing nice, sweet, caring,
none threatening people, even if they are only on television.
This may be why Oprah remains cherished in the hearts and minds
of her viewers after twenty years. She is as Dr. Phil would say,
"a soft place to fall" despite that fact we must experience her
via the "idiot box" as my dad once called it.
What we see most in those television programs is that innocent
sense of togetherness, dare I say that sense of family.
Dictionary.com first defines family as "a fundamental social
group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and
their children." It is the second definition that is perhaps
more accurate however, defining a family as "two or more people
who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one
another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place."
Is a grandmother living with her adult son and her drug addicted
daughter's three children a family? Definition number one would
say no, but definition number two would agree unequivocally. In
fact we can take the definition one step further and say a
family is "two or more people who share goals and values, have
long-term commitments to one another, may reside usually in the
same dwelling place and believe that the spirit and meaning of
family exist through good times and bad."
A real family fights and makes up, argues and agrees to disagree
and loves unconditionally. As we step into 2006 remember that
you define your family every day by your actions, your words,
your belief and your unconditional love or lack of. The Chinese
called the year 2006 the Year of the Dog, I propose to call it
the year of the family and ask that we begin to invest, build
and commit to developing loving caring families. Nothing beats a
failure but a try. Let's try.