Like Water..., Family Connections

There is a video on YouTube entitled, “Did You Know?”. The striking information that comes across in this video is how we are living in exponential times. The rate of new information we receive daily impacts all facets of our lives (education health, welfare). This information is coming to us increasingly faster ever year. Many thoughts came to mind. Are we not all related across the world? One degree removed? What is “The Purpose”? For whom do we live for and why? Will the new discoveries made by man assisting in the improvement of the quality of life be made available to all? Will our leaders (youth of today) make decisions governing our society to benefit all? And most importantly…what role(s) does the family have in these times?

In these times; a family can be like water, with its natural, rolling, gentleness; but it can be rough and tough as well. Quotes describing water have been made by many. “The weakest things in the world can overmatch the strongest things in the world. Nothing in the world can be compared to water for its weak and yielding nature; yet in attacking the hard and the strong nothing proves better than it. For there is no alternative to it. The weak can overcome the strong, and the yielding can overcome the hard: this all the world knows but does not practice”, by Lao-tzu. Another favorite quote (author unknown) is; “When flowing water meets with obstacles on its path, a blockage in its journey, it pauses. It increases in volume and strength, filling up in front of the obstacle and eventually spilling past it”.

We live not only for our immediate family, but also for the family of mankind; and we are all interconnected. There is no denying it and there is no way to ignore this truth. It seems that God keeps providing us with many daily lessons to remind us of this. It is good that God loves all, and continues to execute his master plan in spite of the obstacles we knowingly and sometimes unknowingly put in place. I put the question (What does “family” mean to you?) to a niece and nephew (Maya and Louis Tounsel), and this is what was said; from Maya: “Family means having a group of people around you who mean the most to you in your life. Family doesn’t necessarily mean people who are blood related to you. It just means the people, who will take the time to listen to you, believe in you, have faith in you; and always have your back no matter what. Family reminds of the song I used to sing back in the days when I was a little kid. It went a little something like this: (Maya singing “We are Family. I got all my brothers and sisters with me”). Then it (the song) goes on from there.” From Louis: “Basically what family means to me is a group of people who guarantee you love and respect; no matter which way you go and which route you take in life and etc., plain and simple”.

Stay strong family! Enjoy this family website. Use it as one of your tools to stay connected and informed. As we continue to support our families and the family of the world, let us be like water. Thank you for your love. May God continue to bless you! Phyllis Anderson Lovette

“And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land”. - Isaiah 32:2