Who Am I? To truly answer that question we need to look back.
My ancestors led me to my faith when they embraced Christianity. My great grandparents made me an American when they left their homeland for a better life in this country. My grandparents paved me a solid path as they battled through a World War and a Depression to raise a family. My parents brought me life and instilled in me strong moral values. My older sister set a strong example for me to follow. My wife brought me love and gave me a beautiful daughter. And my daughter lights up my world and brings me fond dreams for the future.
Everything we are, inside and out originated from something. And in most cases that something is family. Our eyes. Our hair color. Our facial features. The way we talk. The way we act. Our values. Our passions. Our skills and talents. We are who we are in many cases because of where we we’ve been, and the family that has helped shape what we’ve become.
When we think about family, we often look at the present. Those living that we see or speak with on a regular basis. But family is so much more. It is about our loved ones who have passed from this world and have left their indelible marks on our lives. It is about the ancestors we only see in pictures or hear about in stories. And it’s about the generations to come, whose very future we are shaping with the lives we live today. We all share the same kindred spirit.
The family tree has many branches, and while leaves will fall over time, as loved ones pass from this world to the next, those leaves are not gone forever. They are the soil that fertilizes the tree and gives growth and strength to the very roots. While no longer with us, their labors, love, lessons, and memories leave lasting impressions in our hearts. And they continue to guide us in our daily lives, whether we recognize it or not.
And so as we reflect upon family, let us think about all those, living and deceased who have left their marks upon our lives. Who given us the opportunities we have today. Who have taught us the skills and values that form our very foundation. And who will always leave lasting memories in our minds, and warm feelings in our hearts. While someday we will all be together again, in reality, we were never really apart. For family will always be a part of us, and we a part of it.
Who am I? I am the product of those who have come before me, and the molder of those to come. I am one of many, but I will always be a part of one family.