Family Matters.

I love my family A LOT. To some people it’s a little overboard I’m sure. I think they are the best. They are always there for me. They love me without fail. They make me laugh hysterically and encourage me and lift me up in prayer. Of course we argue, OFTEN, but I don’t know what I would do without them. I guess, because of this, I think that everyone in the world is as attached to their family as I am to mine. I get excited when people talk about their brothers. I ask them a million weird questions like, “what is your mom’s name?” or “Do you get along with your sister?” It’s strange. I know. I just absolutely adore the fact that these two people meet each other, fall in love and have children that are a mix of them. I love that bubbas and sisters grow up together...sleeping on the living room floor and climbing trees and putting on ridiculous skits. No one knows you like your family does. The Webbs have way too many inside jokes. I am entirely too protective of my little sibs. We are the same and different and no one understands me like them.

I guess this is why...lately...I have been frustrated with girls who marry guys and shut their family out. I realize that you may not get along with his mom. I realize that his parents might be strange and white trash and blunt. BUT, these are the people who raised your husband – the man you love more than any other man. Regardless of what you think, he is a mix of their genes, and much of how he looks at the world can be contributed to these people. His sisters are the ones who helped him bury his childhood pet and sat on his bed with him when his high school girlfriend broke his heart. His brother is the one who taught him to drive and sat in a deer blind with him in the early morning light talking about life. 

I know this relates to husbands too. I know they should take time to know and communicate with their wife’s family. But, let’s be honest, girls are going to stay in touch with their families for the most part. And guys just don’t. They will forget birthdays and miss Christmas dinners and move away without thinking twice. As a wife I feel like you should make an effort to know his family. Let your children meet and know their father’s parents. If you love this man as you say you do, then you should love his family – imperfections and all. 

I know I am single and I don’t understand what it means to be a wife and mom. I also know that families are different – and there are sometimes real, deep issues. I just feel like this is important – and makes sense. Your children will be a mix of you and their dad. That means half of their genes come from this man. They need to know their grandparents; learn family recipes from them; hear stories about their dad when he was growing up. It’s not fair to only allow them to know only half of where they came from. And put yourself in the shoes of your husband/fiance/boyfriend’s mama for a minute. This sweet boy...who she carried with her and held while he cried...has chosen to leave her and take another woman as his caregiver. This can’t be easy for her. The least you can do is remember her birthday and take some time to cook with her and hear about her love story. The least you can do is try to respect his father. Get to know him. Stand outside by the BBQ pit and ask him about work while he cooks. These people raised the man of your dreams. It’s the LEAST you can do.

And yes okay? These pictures do make me cry. I’m telling you. I’ve got love for families. Also...sidenote: Scripture tells us that our love for Christ should be so great that it should make family love look like HATE. Incredible.