First this paragraph: "Printed material (including puzzles for me), wide-ranging media sources, electronic tools and gadgets--all helpful if used properly--can become hurtful diversions or heartless chambers of isolation." That phrase, heartless chambers of isolation, breaks my heart. If we know someone who seems to want to draw a circle around themselves and shut everyone else out, we should draw our circle larger to include them in it! I don't think it means that Dad and I should do every single thing together. But neither should we do every single thing apart. We play Scrabble daily, we watch movies, we eat supper together, we go on walks--that's when our best conversations happen. And of course we do Cub Scouts together, work our shift at the FHC, and serve in the temple together. Hopefully we do enough together to stay connected.
The second idea is when he was talking about our relationships as a family and he said, "We talk with, rather than about, each other." One person told about her children who cannot get along (ages 41 and 43) and they come to her wanting her to arbitrate. Another told about his brother with whom he could not get along for many many years. Another about her sister who was estranged until the last few years of her life. We came away thinking, as we have so many times before, we are so happy our children love each other and want to keep in touch with each other.
I see this carrying on down into the next generations also.
We love you all.
2 comments:
Yesterday I started looking through the scripture-of-the-day book you made. You have some great pictures in there, many from reunions we've had. I think the reunions every summer have really helped our family stay close. Thanks for the book and all the great photos. You reminded me of how cute and smiley Trevor was as a toddler.
I'm enjoying it too! Thanks for giving me one!
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