Though We Can’t Choose Our Family, We Can Choose to Enjoy Them
My wife and I are fortunate. We live close to our children and grandchildren. This because our family matters. We had to move to make it happen, but it was certainly worth it. In case you’re wondering, we first asked our kids for their approval before relocating.
Though they cautiously accepted the idea at first, they later gave us a resounding “Yes!” and soon grew to embrace living near each other.
Now we all relish our proximity. It was a wise move and a cause for celebration.
Half of our family lives four miles south of us and the other half lives nine miles northeast. It’s a quick drive in either direction. We see each half of our family frequently, sometimes weekly and occasionally more often.
On most Friday nights, everyone converges at our house for pizza. It’s the highlight of my week. We share a meal and share life, enjoying each other’s company, and the grandkids get to hang out with their cousins.
In this celebration of family, we have trivial conversations, and we have deep discussions. We enjoy being in each other’s presence. I strive to have significant interaction with each family member. With intentional effort, this usually happens.
I’m better for it and hope they are too.
In doing so, I invest in future generations. It’s a high calling as a parent, perhaps the highest.
Yet I realize this is a season in our lives. As our grandchildren grow, other activities and interests will pull them in different directions. Pizza with their grandparents may dim in comparison.
But as long as this season lasts, I’ll embrace it fully and seek to maximize its value and the impact I can have on my family.
I pray this season will last a long time, and that we’ll continue to gather for Friday night pizza whenever possible.
This idea, however, didn’t begin with my wife and me. My parents started it decades earlier. We all gathered every Saturday evening for many years, starting when our children were young, continuing through their high school years and into college.
ften, they’d invite friends to join us. And two of those friends became spouses.
The legacy lives on.
Questions to consider:
- What can you do to have a positive effect on your family?
- If you’re estranged from your family, what can you do to repair the rift?
- If your family doesn’t live nearby, how can you celebrate each other from afar? Alternately, what can you do to form family where you live?
Life Lesson
We will do well to seek to connect and maintain our relationships with family. Make sure your family matters.
Read more in Peter Lyle DeHaan’s latest book Sticky Living featuring his compelling story-driven insights and tips, part of the Sticky Series.
Peter Lyle DeHaan is an entrepreneur and businessman who has managed, owned, and started multiple businesses over his career. Common themes at every turn have included customer service, sales and marketing, and leadership and management.
He shares his lifetime of business experience and personal insights through his books to encourage, inspire, and occasionally entertain.