November
2006
Family
By Vasthi Acosta
As a Latina, as I’m sure is true for many of you, family is really a clan or tribe. It includes every cousin, uncle, aunt, even twice removed. It looks a lot like My Big Fat Greek Wedding; boisterous, chaotic, happy, confusing, embarassing, troubled, confining, belonging, defining.
Family is a complicated creature. A unit of human beings bound by blood and/or love. Lately, I have been ruminating about what family means to me, compared to how others view family.
How much of my values or beliefs regarding family are biblical, how many of them are cultural and which are engrained from childrearing?
Let me warn you now, I have no answers. But I’ll share some of my meanderings.
Family is more than blood.
Family are those who are not only there in trouble, but also in joy.
Family forgives.
Family confronts out of love.
Family seeks each other out.
Family needs each other.
You tell me if you agree or not. Maybe even add your own definition. What is family to you?
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This work is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License.
Written By: Vasthi Acosta
Posted under: On Being a Parent, Women's Voices . 
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I agree with all your definitions on family and would also like to add;
Family loves unconditionally.
Family respects each member whether they agree or not.
Family loves, loves, loves,loves….
Family has your back no matter what.
Family is a safe haven.
Family seeks God’s will first as a unit and lives by example.
I’ll stop there although I can go on…..
I also agree with you and Mercy regarding your definitions of family. I’d like to say you don’t choose your family they are God given Therefore, when all is not well within your family just remember it is all happening for a reason. There are NO coincidences. God’s gifts are all good!
I wanted to add something to this. I went home thinking about what I wrote and realized that there have been many times in my life when I didn’t have my family around and the Lord placed people who have behaved and showered me with the love and support I needed at those moments. So I also say this:
Family can be God Placed people in your life who have given you love, support and have been with you through some dark and dangerous times.
God never forsakes us.
I loved this post and the comments! Wonderful. What comes to mind isn’t much as I think so much has already been stated but with family sometimes love has to be tough and love is steadfast.
Family is a gift from God and each member is precious and important and has their part.
God Bless!