Christmas is a time for family

The Svendsen Clan - Missing are Jennifer, Katie, Josh, and Chanelle

The above photo was taken in 2017.  That was eight years ago, and a lot has changed.  My dad passed away three years ago, and my son and his wife now have two children.  That's the thing about families; they change.

Everyone is busy.  School, work, just life in general.  As we get older, there seems to be less and less time for family.  The fact that people move away makes getting together even more difficult.  The family we knew as children has changed drastically as we move into adulthood and eventually old age.  

The three things affecting that change revolve around the very nature of life.  Birth, death, and health.  While there is life, there is the opportunity to connect, to be involved in the lives of family, and possibly to make a difference.  It's not just about keeping in touch; it's really about loving, supporting, and building up.  Family means getting and giving help.  This is much more likely to happen when you are invested in the people making up your clan.

The great thing about Christmas is that most of us have time off, either because of breaks in work and school, or because we choose to take some of our beloved holiday time allotted to us by employers.  It is the perfect time to get together.  And when you are together, it is important to build up those relationships through activities, events, traditions, and meals.

My parents and my wife's parents have all passed away; all gone over a period of four years.  I am 65 years old.  How many years do I have left?  How many more opportunities will I have to visit with those I share common genes left?  Not that genetics plays into it, it's just a metaphor for family.  If I see my brother only once every five years, how many times are left that we get together?  Three, four, maybe five times with luck.  That seems sad.

They say blood is thicker than water.  The truth is that the blood stays "thick" only if you care and make the effort to get together and engage in positive experiences.  If you don't, blood loses that thickness awfully fast.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com

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