The Endearing Bonds of Family

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down..." The delightful tune of Mary Poppins and others like her dances through my mind, lifting my spirit as I remember the characters and stories that filled my childhood with joy. Even Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street had his moments of joy—or at least his grumpy antics made us giggle as we lay on the couch or sprawled across the carpet, soaking it all in.

Though we didn’t watch a lot of TV growing up, there were moments when it became a shared experience. Most of our time was spent outside—digging in the sandpile, building forts, swinging, riding bikes up and down the driveway, or helping our parents with some project inside or out. But when we did gather in the living room, it was a moment of connection. My brothers and I would curl up on the couch, stretch out on the floor, and lose ourselves in episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Sesame Street, The Brady Bunch, Leave It to Beaver, and of course, Voltron, He-Man, and Scooby-Doo. Laughter filled the room when something funny happened, and excited voices would shout —"Look!"—whenever something fascinating appeared on the screen.

The TV, or glow box as I have decided to call it, wasn’t the center of our world, but it did bring us joy in small doses. What mattered more than the entertainment was the time spent together. From time to time, even our parents would sit with us, sharing in our laughter and curiosity.

But the greatest gift of all wasn’t found on a screen—it was the unwavering presence of our parents. My mother was not Mary Poppins, and my father was a far cry from John Walton, but they loved us dearly, and we never had to question our place in their hearts.

They were always there. Never missing a bedtime tuck-in with a back scratch or a moment to read us a story. Never missing an opportunity to ask about our day, our friends, or how school was going. Never too busy to help with homework or lend a listening ear, even when my younger brother incessantly asked "How do you know Mom?" We had family dinners together—no matter what. We prayed together. We lived life together. They were present, sometimes more than we wanted them to be, but looking back, it was exactly what we needed.

More than any show or story, their love shaped us. Their presence was the foundation that gave us security, joy, and the confidence to face the world. Though there were moments that we may have wished for a different life, we were living our best lives and didn’t even know it.

Thankfully, we have our own children now and have been excited to raise them fairly similar to the way we were raised. Certainly there are differences, but there is one thing that hasn’t changed… the love and joy of being a family. It’s taken work, compromise, therapy, and a whole lotta prayer, but we are so thankful for our time together, the simple joys and the endearing bonds of family.

Our oldest, is graduated from college and working fulltime; our youngest heading off to college. Both working to fulfill their dreams. And, we get to watch with anticipation and joy. What an amazing gift!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of our parents and for the gift of being a parent. No matter our circumstances, You are our ultimate Father. You are the medicine our souls always need. Thank you for welcoming us into the loving embrace of Your family. Have a beautiful day, God! Amen.

Take care y'all!

All My Love,

Jen

For more information about Get Strong with Jen! click here.

Spots of Joy - Prayer for PTSD - Day 10 click here.