Why Family/Community Is So Much More Than Blood

For the purposes of this blog post, family and community are two words that can be interchanged here. For me, they both carry the same weight in my life.

I have had this post wrote up for a couple of months, fine tuning it, tweaking it. With the events of the past two weeks, this blog post could not be more appropriate for me to post so here goes...

My definition of "family" is not just those you are blood related to. It is those people who love you unconditionally and would do anything for you; it is community. In my 57 years on this earth, I have had many people step into my life that did not have to and who have picked up the pieces when I could not even begin to.

Family is, simply put, so much more than blood. It is intrinsically more complex than just those who share the same genetic pool as you. It is those who support you, those who guide you, and those who are with you through thick and thin. While I did not necessarily choose the people that are now my relatives - life just handed me them along the way - family is what you make of it, however mad and messy it may be. Who can say that they have not just one family, but more like 2.5’s worth to love and support them? At the end of the day, despite it all, I am so very lucky.

Community is made up of the relationships you choose to work on. It is those people who never leave your side, and you will never leave theirs. Cherish your relationships and those special people in your lives. Family is not just made of blood—it is love. Family is not just a person that shares blood or a last name. Community are people that come into your life and stay. Community are people that take time out of their day to be there for you when you need them. Community are people that care for you and love you unconditionally. I am so blessed and grateful that “family” walked into my life.

There are not enough thank you's to be said to make up for everything that this community has done for me. After this time of having community in my life, I never want to know what it would be like to not have community. You welcomed me with open arms the first day we met, and now you are my greatest support system. You have picked me up and made me walk when I thought it was impossible to stand. You have seen me at some of my worst times and stuck by my side and you have walked beside me at my best times. You may not have been with me since the beginning, but I know you will be there until the end. What continues to amaze me every day is that you choose to accept me for who I am, to love me unconditionally. You are not obligated but you do anyway, and that means more to me than you will ever know. Thank you for protecting me, for holding me accountable me when needed, and for giving me advice even if I don't ask for it. Thank you for treating me as your own, without obligation. Thank you for being there when you do not necessarily have to be. Thank you for being in my life.

Just as you have proven time and time again the love you have for me, I hope that I equally show you the same amount of love. I am forever thankful for the amount of love and care that you have shown for me. I pray for the day that I can truly show you the eternal gratefulness I have for you. You have made my life so much better and brighter. I cry a little less, laugh a little more, and love a lot more because of you all. You have been God's gift to me. He knew I would need you all to get through the bumps in the road of life. Whether it is family holidays or Bible Studies or girlfriend outtings, etc.,

thank you for the many memories.

I am blessed to have each of you with me on this journey called life, and I am thankful that you let me be a part of yours. Thank you for everything you have done for me since you have entered my life. Thank you for showing me what it is like to feel important, special, loved, and cherished. Thank you for welcoming me into your life and into your families lives without skipping a beat. I have gained more community than I ever imagined possible. Thank you for proving to me that blood is not always thicker than water.