Families should stick together.
I’ve always believed a family is a microcosm of a community. To function, they need a common set of rules, and they all abide by them. Everyone buys into the vision. Collectively, they’re on a singular mission. Everyone is clear on the objectives. The culture is entrenched and strengthens through every action and transaction with the outer world. United they become impenetrable.
A family home should be a place you can go to re-group. You should have someplace you can call home, where everyone knows and loves you. You’re always welcome there, no questions asked. Someplace safe. A place where failing isn’t a sin. Because we all fail and need a safety net to prevent us from complete disaster. A net we can trust because as a family, we’re all “in on the secret.”
I have your back.
When you have two or more people working as a collective-all pulling in the same direction-you have less friction and can achieve more. The mission is to create a sustainable future for the family and those around you. The work it takes to make the self-contained unit function seamlessly becomes selfless. Everyone makes sacrifices to serve the greater good of the community, the sacrifices are made with a smile.
It’s a movement.
To have a singular vision, the movement needs a firm foundation. Unshakable movements behave in a cult-like fashion when it comes to core beliefs. principles and values. Just so, families that pray together stay together. Having God in the middle, the foundation is set to meet any challenge. It’s only when we stray from this one principle that we find ourselves in trouble. And when we hold God near to our hearts, our mission is no longer a struggle but a journey to be enjoyed.
God in the middle.
Rural communities have a greater sense of family-first than their city counterparts. It seems the closer we get, the further apart we are. It is not a coincidence worldwide, that folks from rural farming communities are friendly and hospitable. Many of my uncles, aunts and cousins live in the “platteland” — the country. Stronger knit families and communities you’ll struggle to find. For generations, they have toiled the land as a family, and it bares fruit for their labour.
A strong family unit is a great thing to witness and admire. When everyone is looking out for one another-with no malice, ill-intent, or agenda-great things happen. If everything we are doing is to improve the lives of everyone that is “in on it,” no one can hide, and everyone pitches in. There is no measuring or micro-managing anyone’s efforts. Anyone not pulling their weight is also dragging themselves down. Reminding them of the vision makes it easy to get them back on track.
I recently sold the home I’ve lived in for the last 16 years. My children lived and grew up here. Moving on is not going to be easy. So many beautiful memories were made in this tiny home. It’s been a place of safety and refuge for me, my kids and so many stragglers over the years, I will miss it. We made it home with our creative touches and signature personalities, each one a masterpiece. Mostly, we filled it with love, laughter, and friendship.
The next chapter awaits with another opportunity to create a place La Familia can call home.
Have an awesome weekend and please be generous! 😄
As always, thanks for reading 🙏
Originally published at https://www.leapfirst.co.za on July 2, 2021.
