What it means to be related...

12/9/2019 9:24:39 AM Link |  | Add comment

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday and being thankful for the meal that Americans gather together to share, it made me think of what it means to be related. Most of us gathered together with family and friends yesterday to celebrate over the traditional turkey or another meat of choice. Gathering in thanks for the blessings of the past or the promise of tomorrow bring many of us together each year. However this does not mean we're related. Sharing a meal or a holiday one day a year does not mean we're related. Talking to someone every day over the phone does not mean we're related. What it means to be related is an unspoken back up plan for the unknown. On any given day, in any given situation you can make a single phone call to a person and they willingly accept you and your immediate family (kids, parents, wife or husband) into their home for an extended period of time. Helping you get on your feet when times are tough with nothing but thanks in return. No bargaining, no trading and absolutely no backlash or spite. If with one phonecall a family member or friend welcomes you and your family with open arms into their home without any details written in fine print, THAT'S what it means to be related. Blood relation or not, a family friend or long lost pal, having someone in your life that would reorganize their own life in order to lend a helping hand when your life is uprooted for any given reason; THAT's what it means to be related. Be thankful for your life and all you've been given and most of all be thankful for those you can describe as "we're related".