Family is important.
I can't tell you how much this was ingrained, engraved & instilled into and onto my brain growing up. Sure there were times when my devotion & priority to family was compromised in the name of work, friendship & church-ship but in the end, family rules.
Story: Right before the Thanksgiving weekend, I went to Gigi's for my semi-annual haircut. After a gloriously relaxing hair wash, my stylist initiated the small talk routine & asked of my plans for the holidays. I told her how excited I was for our family's traditional Day-After-Thanksgiving Dinner at my grandma's house, which is nearly a four hour drive away. She surprised me by being surprised at my enthusiasm. Then I remembered that not everyone shares the same camaraderie as my family does. I kind of felt bad for going on as I did.
Halfway through, my mom shows up & tries to hide her dismay at the nice pile of dark, curly hair on the ground around my chair. I'm not surprised at this. There is usually a period of silence & mourning at our house when one of us girls cuts our hair more than the prescribed inch or two, mainly from my parents. Plus, I had asked for a shorter length this time so I was already prepped for her reaction. Which in reality was a more mellow that I thought it would be. Thank God.
Anyhow, I introduce my mom to my stylist & without missing a beat, she asks my mom if it is okay if she asks her a question or two. My mom, now a little wary, says sure. I'm still on the swivel chair, still under the shears, praying that she doesn't mess up my hair because of my mom's answers/views. She asks my mom:
How did you raise your daughter to love her family so much? I mean, I talk to many girls her age but never do they say how much they look forward to seeing & spending time with their families. I can barely get my kids just to go to family functions. How did you do it?
It wasn't an entirely crazy question but, to my mom who had just walked in, it was unexpected nonetheless. She had to think about it for a minute before answering. She said that it was mostly because of our faith in God that we treat our grandma, aunts & uncles with respect & appreciation. I chimed in to say that it is also because they have supported my sisters and I when money was tight & situations were tense. They have always been there to give us an encouraging word when we were unsure & many warnings when we would stray. All this, based on the absolute Truth. We have spent countless hours with them, talking, laughing, crying & planning.
Luckily, my hair turned out fine.
But just to make my point, as a pastor's child & a person in general, I've seen many people come & go. Granted, a few have stuck around to become awesome friends but when we get down to brass tacks, God & family are here for the long haul. As such, they deserve to be on the top of my priority list.
So to wrap this up, here are some photos from our latest family get-together. Please remember to write if you want me to haunt your own family shindigs with my camera...in the most none creepiest way possible of course.
-K
