~”You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” -- Desmond Tutu
We all can look back and recall fond childhood memories, a day in the park with our parents or a special holiday season. You remember your siblings romping around and relatives always coming through the door. Sitting around a crowded dining table listening to aunts and uncles laugh over memories from their childhood. There's nothing in the world that could replace or come close to that feeling.
“The great gift of family life is to be intimately acquainted with people you might never even introduce yourself to, had life not done it for you.” -Kendall Hailey
As many of us have experienced, friendships come and go. They start out pretty strong but tend to unravel when secrets are formed and distance is created. Many don't last after long times apart. After all, we meet new people and create new friendships making those other ones just memories. Friendship is wonderful, there isn't any reason why you should have as many friends as you like. But that isn't a reason of why you should disregard or lessen the value of your family.
“An ounce of blood is worth more than a pound of friendship.” - Spanish Proverb
Each day brings new surprises and challenges to our lives, making us stronger. And it is always nice to have a group of people you know will always be there for you. Through think and thin, to celebrate the good times and get through the bad. After all, we'll have dozens of friends throughout our lives, but we'll always have only one family.