| What did “family
unity” mean to the pioneer family or the people who settled our country?
For many of these noble people, family unity was both a necessity and a natural
way of life. They relied heavily on each other for survival. Like families of
the past, we have an even stronger need for unity today. Each family member
has his own strengths and interests. Each individual can accomplish many things.
But without support from other family members, all of these separate people cannot
be called a real family. We must be willing to think of others in the family and
how our actions affect the whole group. We must be willing to do what is best
for all, not just think of our own needs. Even though our decisions for our own
lives may differ from others in the family, we must support one another and not
criticize that decision. Other family members will constantly make decisions that
are different from our own, but we must support one another in that decision. Each
member must work together for the good of the family, whether it is spiritual,
emotional, or temporal needs, and by accepting one another for who they are, without
criticism. A family is like a small circle. If we open our circle to others with
love and caring, then our circles will grow larger as we touch the lives of others.
In other words, are we reaching out to those in need, allowing them to feel loved? We
must strive for family unity and in doing so, we must show our love and support
to our family members by going to an important event of a family member to show
support, planning a family gathering, forgiving one another’s offenses or
faults, sending a “thinking-of-you” card to someone just for the fun
of it, and staying overnight and bonding with family members who have moved away.
We can’t afford to let our children go astray because we don’t take
time with them. This is what family is all about: loving one another and helping
one another no matter how different our thoughts and beliefs are. This is called
unconditional love. But at the same time, we, as parents, always hope that our
children will be better than us. Edgar A. Guest described the true feelings of
a parent: No man, though great his own success,
Would have a son of his
do less.
Poor man or rich, his hopes are high
That as the years go swiftly
by,
He’ll be allowed to live to see
His son a nobler person than he;
And
this the prayer he often makes:
“Lord, keep my son from my mistakes.”
Copyright
2006 Written by Linda Weaver Clarke
Bio: Linda
Weaver Clarke received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Music at Southern
Utah University and received the Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Award for
the College of Performing Arts in 2002. She is the mother of six daughters and
the author of Melinda and the Wild West, A Family Saga, published by American
Book Publishing. If you would like to know more about Linda and her novel, her
web site is http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com
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