Most of you know I am the oldest of ten children. My extended family is quite large and my in-laws are many as well. I’m blessed that we are for the most part a harmonious family with only minor skirmishes creating fleeting issues.
I am further blessed by the people that are not related to me by blood or marriage or any legal definition, but are nonetheless members of my chosen family. (Thanks for getting me thinking about this Kim G and Angela.) They are the people I love and who love me. They began as work colleagues or employees, friends of friends, people I met at a social gathering and we hit it off, authors with my publisher, college dorm mates, childhood neighbors, high school friends, or people who read my novels . I follow the ups and downs of their lives and, when possible, I try to make them a little smoother, slightly easier. I firmly believe it always helps to know you are loved—no matter what dire circumstances you find yourself in—and love triples the joy in happy times.
Years ago, our friends’ young daughter explained to me that even though she called me Aunt Kim, I really wasn’t her aunt. I think she believed that I didn’t know it was an honorary title. When I ask why I wasn’t, she patiently explained that since I wasn’t her poppi’s sister or mommy’s sister and Uncle Jim wasn’t their brother, I would never be her aunt. I asked her why she called me Aunt Kim if I wasn’t really related to her. She thought for a moment and said, “Because you’re someone we love.” I’ll gladly embrace that definition of aunthood.
One of my sisters-of-the-heart has been battling cancer and she recently sent me this definition of family: Family is not about blood. It’s about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most. I love this definition and I would add that hand holding can be done virtually through prayers, cards, letters, phone calls, text messages and emails, too. There are countless ways to let someone know you are there for them. Of course, nothing replaces an in person hug, if there is a way to make that happen.
I feel twice blessed because I have blood relatives and in-laws who I would happily want to include in both my traditional family and in my chosen family. Think about the people in your life who could use some encouragement, some love, some hope. Make the first step—choose them to join your family. Love your neighbor as yourself. You’ll be amazed how the love you give is returned to you tenfold. Enjoy!
Lovely! 💕
Even though many miles and years have passed, I still think of you as a sister….even though I know you have plenty!!
Thank you for being the wonderful person that you are.
Even though many miles and years have gone by and unfortunately will continue…I will always think of you as a “sister”. Thank you for being the wonderful person that you are.
This is absolutely beautiful, Kim. Thank you for sharing!
Kim, as always, your words and the pictures that they generate inspire me! I agree with you wholeheartedly! I love my friends as family as much as my family. Love you!
Nicely stated Kim. I am honored to be included in your “family” since 1962.
Bill(y)
Thank you for holding my hand when I needed it most! Love you my other mother 💕
Well stated my sister of blood and of my heart, we are truly blessed in our family and all the extensions.
In the immortal words of Tiny Tim: “God bless us, every one”.
Know you are loved Drs. Ligon
So well said Kim on this September 11!! Love you my Friend & Yes, I would be honored to Hold Your Hand!! ❤️❤️❤️
Wonderful article!! Thank you for always delivering such thoughtful and kind messages to your readers. I always enjoy reading your “ gifts “. Our families are so important when we are going through the more difficult times and the words I just finished reading really hit home. Appreciate you and Jim so very much!!!
I am so grateful so all the author friends and book influencers I’ve connected with since 2022. I wish I had a bigger family and more unrelated relatives. The family I do have has shrunken the last few years with my grandmother, aunt, and cousin passing away. We truly need to embrace the ones we have.
“Someone we love” is a beautiful definition of FAMILY. That explains a lot of people in my life. Thank you for sharing.
I really enjoy this! We are loved and freely give the love within us. Thanks for the reminder. I love you.
Love this. Family is truly more than blood. Thanks sor sharing.
D.
I am truly blessed with some very special “unrelated relatives”, as Grandma would call them, as well as our own huge family ❤️